Early form of team contest (5)

I believe the answer is:

relay

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'team contest' is the definition.
'relay' can be an answer for 'team' (I have seen 'Team of workers' mean 'relay' so perhaps 'team' could also mean 'relay'). I am not certain of the 'contest' bit.

'early form' is the wordplay.
'form' indicates anagramming the letters (a different form of the same letters).
'early' is an anagram of 'RELAY'.

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for relay that I've seen before include "Receive and pass on - race" , "track event" , "Broadcast" , "Pass on - put down again" , "Hand, pass on" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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