Said they might not catch game as a result of this discrepancy (8)
I believe the answer is:
mismatch
'this discrepancy' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mismatch that I've seen before include "(Form) unsuitable couple" , "Mac Smith (anag.)" , "massively uneven contest" , "Incompatibility" , "A failure to correspond" .)