Leading side in cup round play away (5)
I believe the answer is:
cheat
'play away' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'leading side in cup round' is the wordplay.
'leading side in cup' becomes 'c' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'round' becomes 'heat' (stage of a competition).
'c'+'heat'='CHEAT'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cheat that I've seen before include "Rogue" , "Swindler - crib" , "Play false" , "Hoodwink" , "Act dishonestly to gain an advantage" .)