Defenders close to Best getting extra support as a last resort Crossword Clue

Greetings everyone!
The hint for today's crossword puzzle is brought you by "Irish Times Crosaire" and the clue we are solving today is "Defenders close to Best getting extra support as a last resort".

Understanding Today's Crossword Puzzle

The clue "Defenders close to Best getting extra support as a last resort" leads us to the answer "BACKSTOP." Let's break down why this answer fits the clue perfectly:

1. Defenders: This hints at a defensive position in a sports context where players protect against the opposing team's attacks.
2. Close to Best: "Best" indicates excellence or the top, so being close to the "Best" might refer to being in a supporting role near excellence.
3. Getting extra support: This suggests receiving additional assistance or reinforcement.
4. As a last resort: This phrase implies a final option or backup plan when all else fails.

Putting these components together, "BACKSTOP" aligns with the clue as it refers to a term commonly used in sports, particularly baseball, where the backstop is the protective screen behind the catcher. It acts as a final line of defense to stop wild pitches and provide support to the catcher and team, embodying the idea of getting extra support as a last resort in the game.

Definition of "BACKSTOP"

a thing placed at the rear of something as a barrier or support

Example :

pull back harder until you reach the backstop on the stick

the human operator has to act as the ultimate backstop when things go badly wrong

the man who backstopped the Edmonton Oilers

 The Crossword clue "Defenders close to Best getting extra support as a last resort" published 1 time/s & has 1 answer/s. 

Crossword	Date	Answer
Irish Times Crosaire	26 September 2018	BACKSTOP