Clubs in midday match but outcome not in doubt (2,7)
I believe the answer is:
no contest
'outcome not in doubt' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.
'clubs in midday match' is the wordplay.
'clubs' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used in card games such as bridge).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'midday' becomes 'noon' (synonyms).
'match' becomes 'test' (test match is a kind of match).
'c' put within 'noon' is 'nocon'.
'nocon'+'test'='NO CONTEST'
'but' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for no contest that I've seen before include "sure-fire victory" , "Outcome's already known" , "a foregone conclusion" , "The winner is obvious!" , "plea" .)