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First class fish and pork (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

crackling

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'first class' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.

'fish and pork' is the wordplay.
'fish' becomes 'ling' (ling is a kind of fish).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'pork' becomes 'crack' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'ling' put after 'crack' is 'CRACKLING'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for crackling that I've seen before include "Pork covering" , "Crisp skin of pork joint" , "Crisp exterior of roast pork" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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