Crossword Genius

Balanced matches, playing soccer where clubs cut grass back (5,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

score draws

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'balanced matches' is the definition.

'cut grass back' is the wordplay.
'cut' becomes 'score' (I've seen this before).
'grass' becomes 'sward' (literary term for grass).
'back' says the letters should be written backwards.
'sward' backwards is 'draws'.
'score'+'draws'='SCORE-DRAWS'

'playing soccer where clubs' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for score draws that I've seen is " ties other than nil all".)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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