Sticks and leaves covering rooftop (5)
I believe the answer is:
gores
'sticks' is the definition.
(both can mean to pierce or skewer something)
'leaves covering rooftop' is the wordplay.
'leaves' becomes 'goes' (I've seen this before).
'covering' is an insertion indicator.
'rooftop' becomes 'r' (top of the word 'roof').
'goes' enclosing 'r' is 'GORES'.
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for gores that I've seen before include "Pierces with horn like bull" , "Impales in beastly fashion" .)