CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Of a very high standard,‘boron’

clued cryptically (6,4)

6 Female friend returned in a

panic (4)

9 Garden pest a Greek character

named, ultimately (5) 10 Cooking in ‘lite’ was something a model needed to watch, perhaps (9)

12 One in a tub, or one

in a crate? (7)

13 Religious people spending hour

in Asian river (5)

15 Pray there’s melted cheese on

first of burgers (7)

16 A curse, male having

girl’s name (7)

18 One ignited inside target,

recalled troops (7)

20 Basket orphan girl found after

parking next to river (7) 21 Writer retired by a lake in Asian

republic (5)

23 Very strong colour applied round rear of prison (7)

25 Restaurant using money I put in

before (9) 26 In particular, alpha male in Lord

of the Flies (5)

27 Happening briefly in flat (4) 28 Partner improved,

to an extent (6,4)

DOWN

1 Talk about lid (4)

2 Tries to disrupt genuine trial (9) 3 Mature views broadcast about

hackneyed folk tales (3,5,5) 4 Charm of extremely bizarre

sorceress (7)

5 Witty remark, gem, pair in

convulsions (7)

7 Landowner in place of seclusion

with daughter (5) 8 Friendly comment with variety

of ales found in larder (10) 11 Experimentation may bring fear across

Rhode Island (American state) (5,3,5)

14 Very bad, a mobile ban all over

the place (10)

17 Trace calls in it,

improperly (9)

19 Hostile, a rhyme about

Germany (7)

20 Backing international

dissent (7)

22 Tree in plot on base (5) 24 Professional in kitchen given

revolutionary fine (4)