Game in which St Helens initially defend after turnover (8)
I believe the answer is:
draughts
'game' is the definition.
(draughts is a kind of game)
'st helens initially defend after turnover' is the wordplay.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
'defend' becomes 'guard' (I've seen this before).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'turnover' says the letters should be written in reverse.
The first letter of 'helens' is 'h'.
'st'+'h'+'guard'='sthguard'
'sthguard' written backwards gives 'DRAUGHTS'.
'in which' is the link.
(Other definitions for draughts that I've seen before include "medical doses" , "Checkers (US)" , "with doors open?" , "the Windies are presumably good at?" , "Checkerboard game for two players" .)