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Matches and the score (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tallies

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'matches and the score' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'matches and the' is the wordplay.
'matches' becomes 'allies' (ally is a kind of match).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'the' becomes 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects).
'allies' after 't' is 'TALLIES'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tallies that I've seen before include "Sums up" , "Recordings" , "Agrees; scores" , "Counts, of votes say" , "Reckons debt or score" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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