Sticks the first pieces of roughcast on damp surface (4)
I believe the answer is:
rods
'sticks' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'first pieces of roughcast on damp surface' is the wordplay.
'first pieces of' indicates taking the first letters (I've seen 'first piece of' mean this).
The first letters of 'roughcast on damp surface' is 'RODS'.
'the' is the link.
(Other definitions for rods that I've seen before include "Biblical races" , "Hot ones are modified cars" , "Those angling" , "Fishing sticks or canes" , "Straight, thin sticks" .)