The Burnaby Lake Rugby Club went into the winter break with an emphatic win over last-place Meralomas.
The Lakers clobbered the Connaught Park club 73-5 in the final premier men's regular season match of 2013 to remain in top spot in the B.C. Rugby Union table.
The No. 1-ranked Burnaby club were led by Giuseppe Laudisio with three tries.
Lock forward Ryan McHollister got the double blue on the board first, scoring in the opening five minutes off a maul. Alec Douglas kicked the first of his nine conversions to put the visitors ahead 7-0.
Burnaby scrum half Cody Rockson, Laudisio, centre Joe Dolesau and forward Kyle Wizniewski all scored to put the Lakers ahead 33-0 at the interval.
Laudisio and Cole McQueen both scored a pair of tries, while Angus Fisher ran in the final score of the second half. Winger Brian Murphy also tallied for the fifth time this season for the winners.
The win improved Burnaby Lake's record to 5-1, three points up on the 4-2 University of Victoria, 48-12 winners over Castaway Wanderers at home.
James Bay and UBC Old Boys, who stopped Capilano's win streak with a 22-20 win at home, also remained in the hunt at 4-2 a handful of points back.
"We have worked hard to be in that spot," said Burnaby Lake head coach Kris de Scossa in a B.C. Rugby press release. "Every club is a threat in this league and the games, for the most part, have been close."
League play will resume in January.
