Crossword Genius

Elite players failing to finish meal (5,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cream tea

'meal' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'elite players failing to finish' is the wordplay.
'elite' becomes 'cream' (as in the cream of the crop).
'players' becomes 'team' (sports team).
'failing to finish' means to remove the last letter.
'team' with its final letter removed is 'tea'.
'cream'+'tea'='CREAM TEA'

(Other definitions for cream tea that I've seen before include "Macerate (anag) - light meal" , "tasty treat" , "Supposedly civilised afternoon meal" , "calorie-packed meal" , "afternoon treat" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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