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Burns learner excluded from 2-player match (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

singes

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

'burns' is the definition.
(I know this)

'learner excluded from 2-player match' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'from' could be 'in' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'in' is found within the answer.
'player' could be 'e' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'e' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for singes that I've seen before include "Burns superficially" , "Burns lightly" , "Scorches on the surface" , "burn-marks" , "Burns slightly, maybe while ironing" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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