The dual meet season closed on the Crimson matmen Saturday afternoon in the IAB, when Yale pulverized the middle of the Harvard lineup to surmount an early deficit and secure the 27-20 victory. Harvard will take an 11-7-1 record into the upcoming Eastern Championships.

The reputation of the Crimson's iron man, 118-pounder Paul Widerman, preceded him to the mat. Eric Sorkin, a three-time Ohio state schoolboy champion before coming to Yale, refused to confront Widerman. Sorkin's stalling techniques drew two cautions and three warnings before the referee disqualified him and awarded the bout to Widerman, 6-0.

Andy McNerney's back-to-the-mat style may have put coach Johnny Lee on the verge of an ulcer, but he won't complain if the Yardling continues wins.

Bulldog 126-pounder Andy Velez jumped out in front, 8-1, before McNerney got down to business with an upper body throw to net five points. Awarded back points three times, McNerney took the lead without relinquishing another point, and then controlled Velez for the 17-8 victory.

Once again the Crimson lost the lead with a dismal showing in the middle bouts. Yale's Paul Myers caught 150-pounder A1 Montgomery off guard at the buzzer for another take down. The final two points stretched the victory margin to eight points, just enough for the decision in Myers' 12-4 victory. An even bigger gap gave Rick Wetzler the decision in his 19-6 mauling of Crimson co-captain Doug Mason at 167 lbs.

An experiment which put Mark Cooley in the 177-lb. slot for the Harvard squad failed miserably when the husky junior lost strength along with the pounds.

With Cooley returning to 190 lbs. and heavyweight Jim Phills ready to go after an easy second-period pin over Yale's Mike Makuch, the heavy part of the Harvard lineup should be at full strength for next weekend's Eastern Championships in Lehigh, Pa.