CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Game offering professorships in conservatoires? (7,6)

9. Sail near pinks growing wild (9)

10. It is not fit to paint in such a way (5)

11. Went wrong in making some further reductions (5)

12. Then City’s conversion is not the real thing (9)

13. Takes legal possession of dump no one’s upset by (8)

15. Delayed as trousers are by braces (4,2)

18. Understand article that will boil (6)

20. Don’t dwell on a Jewish feast (8)

23. It’s not the overarm delivery that’s surreptitious (9)

24. Nine players returned, looking for a mortise (5)

25. A trainee who acted strangely (5)

26. Do turn gun on the Arachis (9)

27. Abnormal u-turn partner later takes (13)

DOWN

1. Plays with rites known to the initiated (9)

2. Purist may be about right to put his foot in it (7)

3. Will dance about, having been beaten (5)

4. Keel said to be laid out at the water’s edge (8)

5. Quickly going to suspend the right one inside (6)

6. It is characteristic of Eire that her sin is to the South (9)

7. Gave a jump as one set off (7)

8. A caper one can’t prepare (5)

14. Why use theatre without a guidance from the torch-girl? (9)

16. How one might be parental around the time of birth (9)

17. It’s not up to the crew member to pass it on to successors (4,4)

19. Eventually found oneself dun, deep in trouble (5,2)

21. Wine seller one might intern after 3rd November (7)

22. Canal boatman may agree to go by the book (6)

23. He is relatively dirty, coming to an end (5)

24. Principle that’s held either way up (5)