THE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Supporter at the match in special costume (10) 8 Bird seed needs it (5) 9 He looks after a dog on a hill (7) 10 Wanted a knighthood indeed (7) 11 Possibly showed off Eastern craft (5) 12 The rest of Spain (6) 14 Colour that would run? (6) 17 It’s used in guiding pilots left and right (5) 19 Hide the port (7) 21 Assign work to a writer (7) 22 A girl with good ones attracts a lot of them (5) 23 Not left behind; in fact well in front (5,5)

DOWN

2 A quick reply by one who is foiled (7) 3 Prevent animal swallowing the tin opener (5) 4 Withdraw a direction to surrender (6) 5 Cut down a dentist’s work (7) 6 It’s said in France to be the same (5) 7 Puzzles resulting in arguments? (10) 8 Lacking inspiration he goes for a walk (10) 13 Not a straightforward job for woodworkers (7) 15 Girl alone or tied up (7) 16 The Mad Hatter gets a warning (6) 18 Colour scheme for last month - heraldic gold (5) 20 He’s found in proper alphabetical order (5)

ACROSS QUICK CLUES

1 Very foolish (4-6) 8 Band of warlike nomads (5) 9 Put forward as a plan (7) 10 Certificate of correctness (7) 11 Fail to justify (5) 12 Cite as proof (6) 14 To parody (4,2) 17 Ordain (5) 19 Hold in check (7) 21 Run wild (7) 22 A thin soup (5) 23 To rebuke (4,2,4)

DOWN

2 On the bottom in shallow water (7) 3 Newly made (5) 4 Meaning (6) 5 Inconvenience (7) 6 Whimsically amusing (5) 7 Extreme excitement (5,5) 8 Be merciful (4,1,5) 13 Retrench (3,4) 15 Arousing suspicion (7) 16 Going by shortest way (6) 18 Acknowledge (5) 20 Regular practice (5)

PUZZLE 14986