[Solution] Losing Battle – 30 May 2022

Each sentence describes a battle between two things which differ by a single letter. The pairings are as follows:

A SHOUT defeats a SCOUT.

A CLOAK breaks a CLOCK.

ROT overtakes ROO.

A FORK routs YORK.

CURIE breaks a CURSE.

A CHECK overwhelms a CHICK.

A BOWLER takes out BOWSER.

A HERD tramples the HERO.

A PASTRY stymies a PANTRY.

A FILM overwhelms a FILE.

The changed letters in the winners spell out HATFIELDSM and the corresponding letters from the losers spell CCOYSISONE. Taken together, these spell out the clue phrase Hatfields-McCoys is one. The Hatfields and McCoys gave their name to an infamous FEUD.