dead rubber

[Victor Steinbok]

> Although Hungary began the night knowing they could still draw level
> on points with second-placed Sweden, an inferior head-to-head record
> made this a dead rubber match.

"Dead rubber" is in UD, Wiki and Wiktionary, but not in OED or any other
printed dictionary that I've seen (nor online counterparts). Plenty of
hits--a meaningless match in a tournament where placement is not at
stake or in a series where the outcome has already been determined.

     VS-)

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