TBILISI, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Defending champions Georgia on Saturday came from behind to defeat hosts Romania 19-13 in their 2012 European Nations Cup rugby first division tie in Bucharest, according to the Georgian Rugby Union.

The away win maneuvered the Georgian Lelos back into a position to defend their six-nation championship title which they took from last year's single round-robin tourney with five straight victories.

Georgia and Romania now both have 10 points from three games but the Romanians are slightly ahead thanks to their favorable point difference.

But this year, Georgia lost to hosts Spain in their opening game in Madrid, before beating visiting Portugal in Tbilisi.

Georgia next play Russia in Tbilisi on March 17.

The defending champions last play the Ukrainians in April on a date yet to be fixed. Their cup tie was postponed from February to April because of heavy snowfall in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev back then.