| SAPLINGS | Greyhounds in their first year; young trees; or, a novel by the author of Ballet Shoes, Noel Streatfeild (8) |
| LEVERETS | Young hares, especially those in their first year (8) |
| FRESHMAN | US student in their first year (8) |
| FRESHERS | Informal term for students in their first year at college or university (8) |
| FRESHMEN | A student, male or female, in their first year at university (8) |
| INLET | The first mechanically-operated ----- valve was reputedly used by Gipsy in their first car prototype in 1898 (5) |
| TEANECK | Town where the New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets played home games for their first year |
| SALFORDREDDEVILS | Rugby league club who lost 82-0 to St Helens last month in their first Super League fixture of the year (7,3,6) |
| ROCKYBALBOA | Loser to Apollo Creed in their first bout |
| ROOKIES | Pro athletes in their first season |
| LARVAE | Insects in their first stage of development |
| TEETHE | What babies do in their first two years |
| TRAP | Could you catch a greyhound in one? (4) |
| VASHCHUK | Vladyslav ........ , Ukraine defender sent off against Spain in their first game of the 2006 FIFA World Cup (8) |
| EAST | The primary direction taken by the Long Way Round boys in their first expedition nearly 15 years ago (4) |
| CROATIA | England's opposition in their first game at the Euros (7) |
| CZECH | ___ Republic, Scotland's opposition in their first Euro game (5) |
| SWITZERLAND | Country, capital Bern, who Wales are facing in their first game of the Euros (11) |
| PATRON | Supporter of Patrick and Ronald, but only in their first half (6) |
| TOAD | In their first story together, he wants to sleep another month, but Frog gets him out of bed |
