Winger goes after free hit in Portsmouth tie? (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
reef knot
'portsmouth tie?' is the definition.
'reef knot' can be an answer for 'tie?' (I have seen 'Secure tie ' mean 'reef knot' so perhaps 'tie' could also mean 'reef knot'). I am not sure about the 'portsmouth' bit.
'winger goes after free hit' is the wordplay.
'winger' becomes 'knot' (knot is a kind of bird).
'goes after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'hit' is an anagram indicator.
'free' with letters rearranged gives 'reef'.
'knot' after 'reef' is 'REEF-KNOT'.
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for reef knot that I've seen before include "secure hold" , "Secure way of joining the ends of two ropes" , "Secure tie" , "Fastening used by sailors" , "Secure rope fastening" .)