CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 7 A centre in the Parisian ball game (8) 9 Closer game? Lose out, but well done! (6) 10 Remarkable reign associated with a queen (6) 11 Tall tale about king causes disagreement (8) 12 Very imposing — that’s how actors are on the cinema screen (6,4,4) 15 Not even second chances (4) 17 Strange, the two of us following one road? On the contrary (5) 19 Dog story heard (4) 20 Pensioners initially sang in tune in minstrel style (3,5,2,4) 23 Deliberate trick by team on right (8) 25 Sordid Greek partner, according to a Cockney? (6) 27 Hit rower (6) 28 No thanks! Great! Don’t mention it! (3,2,3)

DOWN 1 Centre of inferior quality (4) 2 Making mistake chopping head off fish (6) 3 Insect landing on fine meat (4) 4 Fighting court case (6) 5 Area DI observing rules very closely (8) 6 Promises no changes — an error in speech (10) 8 Bird in spring on river bank (7) 13 Also short of bubbly, etc (3,2,5) 14 Hitch up in Hawick, they say (5) 16 Reconstructed Swedish boxing ring is minor attraction (8) 18 Current doctor caught head of clinic out (7) 21 Senior citizens love stories about duke (6) 22 Husband and his mother’s sisters could be locals? (6) 24 Amphitheatre in Trier, in Germany (4) 26 Ointment from research centre spilled over motorway (4)