Rally: scholars will go before second date (4,7)

I believe the answer is:

mass meeting

'rally' is the definition.
('mass meeting' can be a synonym of 'rally')

'scholars will go before second date' is the wordplay.
'scholars' becomes 'mas' (holders of Master of Arts degrees).
'will go before' says to put letters next to each other.
'second' becomes 's' (common abbreviation).
'date' becomes 'meeting'.
'mas'+'s'+'meeting'='MASS-MEETING'

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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