Half-heartedly ran the match, returning to seek postponement (5)

I believe the answer is:

defer

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'seek postponement' is the definition.
(seek a deferral)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for defer that I've seen before include "Freed to submit to authority" , "Yield to another's opinion" , "Bow?" , "Put off, postpone" , "Delay" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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