Inquisitor 80

[RossR]

I have completed almost all the answers (except 10A and 1D) but can find no trace of any hidden phrase, Could somebody please give me a hint?

[Rapparee]

10a A ban don
1d Saints - anag in S.A. + first and last letters of townships

The hidden phrase refers to a period of time in London SE and its two words are not in straight lines.

[MLN:RUGBY]

For how long & where has Nadal just been?

[RossR]

Aha, it looks as though I have some wrong crossing answers, thanks very much.
I'm sure I have guessed the phrase - where and how long - but I cannot find it. I'll work over those answers and look again.

[RossR]

OK, I have now found it all. Thanks, guys.

I still don't see any connections (or sense) in the "thematic clues" or either of their answers. I know we don't have to explain that, but can anybody?

[Tichfield]

The thematic answers - not what you put into the grid - all all types of balls.

[RossR]

Wonderful, thanks very much. That does make the whole puzzle hang together very well.

[ulysses100]

I've just got round to doing this crossword. I've completed the grid (virtually) ; though there are a couple of clues I'm not happy with :
26d ourari -- OK with our and RI but where does the "a" come from ?
19d report -- rep for cloth but why "ort" ?
36a Prunes rose bush finally and headed blossoms --dehorns
I have then found the place in the top left hand corner (but all the letters are there) but I can make a circular shape leaving out the "O" and similarly in bottom right hand corner for the other missing "O". Is this all that is required or am I missing something in trying to connect the two balls ?

[RossR]

I took this as AR for Arizona + I for "is". A bit skimpy, but good enough, I guess.

ORTS are left-over bits of food.

DEHORNS is an anagram of ROSE + (bus)H + (a)ND.

Yes, as I understand it, that is all you need do (but I hadn't thought of the shapes as balls - that's extra neat!).

[ulysses100]

Thank you RossR for your prompt reply.
When you have an explanation it seems so much easier ! I had RI (Rhode Island) as the state ; and. of course an ort is a leftover !