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I'm making very slow progress but slightly worried by the fact I have an answer for 9 across, which I assume is a 'normal' entry' (4 letters specified, and space for them) that has not required removing a word from the clue.

Yes, one of the two words is redundant.

...check 2 and 3 of the appropriate headword.

Greetings from the sandbank. I'm finding it very difficult to get started and, having done relatively well over the last two weeks, don't wish to give in this early. Could I therefore ask for help - bearing in mind this is an answers thread?
I'm confident with my answers for the first two across clues and assume that some letters must be two to a cell. I thought I had solved the third across with a word for a spring harvest in India (chopping off the first and last letters of a sort of country). Is the first of the down clues 'e" before a summer wine, neither red nor white? Please tell me if I'm wrong and could someone give me a nudge on the second and third down clues? If I could get one of them I feel that it is worth continuing.

Rather a lot to ask I know but I need to prepare myself for witnessing the weekly tragedy of my Rugby team (on the TV at 1935 tonight).
Thanks all.

Your first down clue reasoning is correct. I have an answer for 3 where “in country” (I think) means anagram. Not convinced though.
Personally can’t stand rugby and will be watching England try to get into double figures tonight.

I had 3a as a 5 letter W African country minus its last letter/'cropped'.

The 2nd down continues the 'wine' idea and uses one of those you've mentioned (the result is a word of Spenser's for 'declared' - 'passe' = archaic).
The next down is criminal gangs - the US 'trash' = initials for something cattle drop, coming after 'bones' - a military doctor.

Can I have some help with 2 and 3 across please?

Sorry meant 2 and 4 across

'Drove' as in a great many.
Think of 'stick out' in terms of withstand and what you might see on an electrical board - it's a rather loose double def.