THE CROSSWORDS

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Present following the future (9) 8 Number three is wrong (5)

9 Some wine no-one sent back (7) 10 Metal container of very poor quality (3-3)

11 The dangers of using broken pliers (6) 12 Putting wild cattle on a ship is lacking sense (8)

15 Water creature is quiet inland (8) 18 A Verdi composition that’s diverse (6) 20 Slight injury? (6)

21 Was sullen and cross in retirement (7) 22 Growing inexperienced (5)

23 Make a smashing entrance (9)

DOWN

2 Take part in a running match (5) 3 Necessitate being in late perhaps (6) 4 Twelve-inch pace? (8)

5 Is among those left to fight (6) 6 This may be used to bring down a helicopter (7)

7 Objected to poster Ted put out (9) 11 Game available from pig trader (9) 13 Study poetry, so to speak (8) 14 Thwarted by interbreeding? (7) 16 First-rate swimmer in far from peak condition? (6)

17 Protection for king in love (6) 19 Vessels were wrecked on the point (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Lacking dexterity (3-6) 8 Heighten (5)

9 Rumour (7)

10 Develop gradually (6) 11 Connect (6)

12 Unquestioning (8) 15 Three-sided figure (8) 18 Imperturbability (6)

20 Begin again (6)

21 Decisive (7)

22 Alert (5)

23 Partly sheltered anchorage (9)

DOWN

2 Expert (5)

3 Size and general makeup (6) 4 Harshly critical (8)

5 Nonsense (6)

6 Regional form of language (7) 7 Resignation to failure (9) 11 Dutch commercial capital (9) 13 Ready (8)

14 Male relative (7)

16 Quantity (6)

17 Bring out (6)

19 West African country (5)