Crossword Genius

Run out with me, almost as a favour (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rosette

'a favour' is the definition.
('favour' historically meant a token of affection)

'run out with me almost' is the wordplay.
'run out' becomes 'ro' (cricket abbreviation).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'me' becomes 'setter' (the person that set this crossword).
'almost' means to remove the last letter (most of the word but not all of it).
'setter' with its final letter taken off is 'sette'.
'ro'+'sette'='ROSETTE'

'as' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for rosette that I've seen before include "Cockade" , "Prize; favour" , "Arrangement of ribbons presented as a prize" , "Ribbon in a cluster as an award" , "Ribbon badge for prize-winner" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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