Well down field crew takes helmsman's lead (6)
I believe the answer is:
eighth
'well down field' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'crew takes helmsman's lead' is the wordplay.
'crew' becomes 'eight' (an eight-person rowing team).
'takes' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'lead' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'helmsmans' is 'h'.
'eight'+'h'='EIGHTH'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for eighth that I've seen before include "One after seventh" , "Day of Christmas to receive maids a-milking" , "The last Henry or Edward?" , "The latest Henry or Edward?" , "Fraction, twelve and a half per cent" .)