| GAMESMAN | One's not quite a cheat - sneakily manages to secure First in maths (8) |
| ADMIRALSCUP | Dump a sailor at sea, nothing less, to secure first in contest ___ this one? (8,3) |
| ZEROTH | It comes before first, in math |
| REPRIMAND | Lecturer gives this pain, to secure first in Italian (9) |
| MIDLANDS | Note leftwing delegate manages to secure Offaly and Laois, for instance |
| ASBESTOS | A call for help secures first heatresistant substance (8) |
| HEADLAND | Manage to secure cape (8) |
| UPINARMS | Outraged, you finally secure first of available rooms (2,2,4) |
| ACQUAINTANCE | A short scrub round unusual for one not quite a friend |
| NEARLYMAN | One not quite a success in new Park film (6,3) |
| WATERPOLO | Endless battle to secure first couple of points in game (5,4) |
| LANDSLIDE | Left in party to secure first big majority (9) |
| SPHERE | Female about to secure first of plays for Globe (6) |
| PAPERWEIGHTS | Office items I get, perhaps, designed to secure first bit of writing (12) |
| STEROID | Does it improperly secure first in race? |
| HANDLEBARS | Successfully manages to secure bolt in steering device (10) |
| GETCRACKING | Act quickly to secure first class |
| ARITA | Strain to secure first of the Japanese porcelain |
| SECONDFIDDLE | Another bit of cheating for one not quite fit to be a leader |
| LANDAU | Secure first class upgrade to start with in carriage (6) |
