The more difficult method is a rocky road (4,3)

I believe the answer is:

hard way

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'the more difficult method' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'rocky road' is the wordplay.
'rocky' becomes 'hard' (similar in meaning).
'road' becomes 'way' (I've seen this in other clues).
'hard'+'way'='HARD WAY'

'is a' is the link.

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I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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