{ THE CROSSWORDS }

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Cancel my order for plant (8)

5 Perhaps every school holds a recess (4)

9 Penal reform board (5)

10 Bring into effect a capital sentence (7)

11 Forbidding places? (7,5)

13 Often come as a trio, hips first (6)

14 A grim situation on board (6)

17 You may like a nip from this dog (5,7)

20 Beat gold in the open air (7)

21 Risk involved in uncertain cures (5)

22 Rose awkwardly, being in pain (4)

23 Agree on two points, then another colour (3,5)

DOWN

1 Manage an item for investment (4)

2 Many make certain you get the blame (7)

3 Initial repetition is only repetition after all (12)

4 Before this time in the past (6)

6 A planet or a dog star (5)

7 Nevertheless, netting first and last service (8)

8 Describes pre-arranged loathing (12)

12 Cuts out a ballet movement (8)

15 It may accompany a throbbing drum (7)

16 Transport provided for those who are late (6)

18 In the meantime I’m after it (5)

19 Alternative to an Algerian port (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Clapping (8)

5 50 per cent (4)

9 Accumulate (3,2)

10 Small stream (7)

11 Lack of moderation (12)

13 Dissertation (6)

14 To attack (6)

17 Be discarded (2,2,3,5)

20 Depart secretly (7)

21 Veracity (5)

22 The cost in life (4)

23 West Indian island (8)

DOWN

1 Crooked (4)

2 Act of contrition (7)

3 Increase in value (12)

4 Text for broadcasting (6)

6 Exhausted (3,2)

7 Paternal (8)

8 At intervals (5,2,5)

12 Not flowing in stream (8)

15 Stranded (7)

16 Seller (6)

18 A culinary herb (5) 19 Cast off (4)