City College of New York thrashed the Crimson fencing team yesterday in New York as Harvard collapsed in the final round to lose, 17-10.

The Crimson was trailing CC NY by only one point before the epee and foil squads threw the match away as they lost the final six bouts.

Crimson coach Edo Marion blamed the loss on inexperience and injuries which forced him to start five fencers who rarely compete on the varsity level.

The epee squad turned in a particularly dismal performance, Marion said. He had expected them to win by a 6-3 margin, but instead they came out with a paltry 2-7 showing.

Howie Weiss, the left-handed foil performer, typified the fortunes of the Crimson. Weiss won in the first round by a convincing 5-0 margin but then lost his next two bouts, 5-4, 5-3.

Harvard fans could take some solace in wins by freshmen foilmen Nick Tepe and John Major, who had what Marion termed "outstanding" nights. Coren Joseph led the team's scoring effort with a 2-1 night in sabre competition.

The fencers' journey to New York promises to be one they will want to forget.