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Neck and neck in the cribbage game? (5,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

level pegging

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'cribbage game?' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'neck and neck in the' is the wordplay.
'neck and neck' becomes 'level' (I've seen this before).
'in the' becomes 'pegging' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'level'+'pegging'='LEVEL PEGGING'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for level pegging that I've seen before include "Uniform state" , "unlikely when camping in the mountains?" , "Even scores" , "could it straighten out one's hang-ups?" , "All square ... at cribbage? ..." .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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