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Took advantage of southern gang at credit centre (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

screwed

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'took advantage' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to competing as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'southern gang at credit centre' is the wordplay.
'southern' becomes 's' (abbreviation).
'gang' becomes 'crew' (synonyms).
'at' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'centre' says to take the centre.
The middle of 'credit' is 'ed'.
's'+'crew'+'ed'='SCREWED'

'of' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for screwed that I've seen before include "in serious trouble" , "Swindled; twisted into place" , "Fastened - cheated - drunk" , "Spoiled" , "secured into position" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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