Round By Round, Making A Comeback In The Ring

[Francesca2]

4 letters. In February Saga magazine

[dannyk13]

pool (round) -loop(round) reversed

[Francesca2]

Thank you Danny, but I'm not sure about this. First, I get the loop bit, but how does pool mean either round or something in the ring? Second, that would make 7 across start with an o. So you would get o-r----, and there's absolutely nothing that fits that means either carriage or deteriorate. Back to the drawing board!

[bristor]

opal (?)

[Mamyalynne]

7a answered here, which then suggests this answer starts 'p'?

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puzzles/Crosswords/Question1591152.html

[bristor]

Start of 7a is second letter of 6d

[jim360]

A "pool" is a round in, eg, the Rugby World Cup (equivalent to the Group Stages).

See also Mamy's link, which for the record gives 7a as PORTAGE (left = port, deteriorate = age; and Portage is "carriage" in the sense of carrying a boat from one river to another).

[jim360]

Although that said I like Opal as well, works better: O + lap<

[JJ109]

Mamy, surely if francesca thought it started with an O if pool was correct (second letter) then P is the second letter here _ P _ _

[Mamyalynne]

Thanks Bristor, I misunderstood the above - good call.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes I made a boo boo.

[JJ109]

Sorry Bristor - didn't see your post at 23.58

[bristor]

My first toe in the pool so far as this site is concerned - didn't mean to cause confusion

[Mamyalynne]

Trust me, you didn't - it was me.

Welcome.

[1ozzy]

11 years sat at the edge?

The waters not too bad here.

Welcome.

[Francesca2]

Thanks everyone. I'm going with opal. O (a round) pal (lap - as in circuit - in reverse). And p is definitely the first letter of 7 across which I've now worked out.