Cam Stones exploded for four tries as the McMaster men's rugby team defeated the Laurier Golden Hawks 24-8 at Back 10 Field on Friday.

The result returns the Marauders (3-3) to the .500 mark with one game remaining on their conference schedule. Laurier (0-5-1), meanwhile, remains without a win this season after suffering its fifth loss in six contests.

McMaster rode a bright start in the opening ten minutes to their eventual victory. The fourth-year eight man Stones crossed the goal line twice within that span, scoring tries in the fourth and ninth minutes, while Andrew Ferguson kicked a successful convert on the second to extend the Marauders' early lead to 12 points.

The Golden Hawks got on the board in the 13th minute, when Matthew Sneath converted the penalty goal to cut the Marauders lead to 12-3.

Stones struck for the third time in the opening half to put McMaster ahead 17-3 in the 18th minute, but Laurier's Kevin Rush would peg the hosts back just before the halftime interval with a try of his own in the 35th minute.

The second half was a quiet one from an offensive standpoint, as the Marauders held firm to deny any comeback attempt on their visitors' part. The banner day continued for Stones however, as he notched his fourth and final try of the afternoon in the 74th minute, with James Leveridge providing the convert.

McMaster concludes its conference season on home field in a week's time, as they welcome the Waterloo Warriors to Back 10 Field on Saturday, October 19. That game is scheduled to kick off at 2:00 p.m.