Crossword Genius

Caught, unlike priests — in court, sort of (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

clay

'court sort of' is the definition.
(as in clay tennis courts)

'caught unlike priests' is the wordplay.
'caught' becomes 'c' (cricket abbreviation).
'unlike priests' becomes 'lay' (like lay people as opposed to priests).
'c'+'lay'='CLAY'

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for clay that I've seen before include "Raw material for pottery" , "Soil used in pottery" , "Pigeon target" , "Earthenware" , "Earth, soil" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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