Sailor cheers run (3)
I believe the answer is:
tar
'sailor' is the definition.
(tar is a kind of sailor)
'cheers run' is the wordplay.
'cheers' becomes 'ta' (I've seen this in other clues).
'run' becomes 'r' (cricket abbreviation).
'ta'+'r'='TAR'
(Other definitions for tar that I've seen before include "Jack < to blacken" , "Sailor; road surface" , "Kind of rat for sailor" , "It may cover the road" , "Informal sailor or road-surfacing material" .)