Crossword Genius

Was emphatic that the side isn’t to be beaten (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

insisted

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'was emphatic that' is the definition.
'insisted' can be an answer for 'was emphatic' (I've seen this before). I am not certain of the remainder of the definition.

'side isn't to be beaten' is the wordplay.
'to be beaten' is an anagram indicator (letters beaten up or destroyed).
'side'+'isnt'='sideisnt'
'sideisnt' anagrammed gives 'INSISTED'.

'the' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for insisted that I've seen before include "Declared emphatically about tidiness" , "Stated positively and assertively" , "Declared or demanded emphatically" , "... repeated" , "Stated emphatically, refusing to budge" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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