CRYP TIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Equip pal to create ornamental work ( 8) 9 Ardent male meeting me in passage ( 8) 10 Prophet: ‘ Before noon you will return amazingly’ ( 4) 11 Secretly, trendy needs self- assurance ( 2,10) 13 Lasses returning to big pile refuse to get dropped by mine ( 4,4) 15 Small canine – greyhound perhaps? ( 6) 16 It’s hot and smoky at times in Vietnam ( 4) 17 Bill avoids bird – one’s given a close shave? ( 5) 18 Foolhardy in spots ( 4) 20 School sandwiches used to be cut in half in station ( 6) 21 Lasting three months beyond the prime? ( 8) 23 Make fewer complaints about practical demonstration ( 6,6) 26 Fox in Scotland trapping a small creature ( 4) 27 Heather, after twelve months, gets young animal ( 8) 28 See April disentangling trellis ( 8)

DOWN

2 It is not bound to appeal to readers ( 8) 3 Logs in to play – action that’s a hopeless endeavour! ( 6,6) 4 Flan made by French who put by Argentinian red ( 6) 5 Not once coming up, bypassing right flat ( 4) 6 Sensational story giving tingle to that female Cockney ( 8) 7 Eager Nan’s left cotton cloth ( 4) 8 Full complement of grit ( 8) 12 Old fairytale being intellectual? Not yet fully proved ( 12) 14 Not a square meal for Italians ( 5) 16 How agreement could be made across bridge ( 3,2,3) 17 Like a lemur, trailing badly ( 4- 4) 19 Ankle was dislocated in ballet ( 4,4) 22 Raise money – it’s a risk either way ( 4- 2) 24 Jack round with a new woman ( 4) 25 Advantage of four- speed gears ( 4)