CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Sweetener is almost certain to take Georgia in (5)

4. TSE on the rugby field? (3-4)

8. False quality shown by one in a frail City, it might appear (13)

10. Loans taken out at the hairdresser’s (5)

11. On the road it is inclined to be a racket (4)

12. Fail to make a hit with a schoolmistress (4)

16. Liquorice flavour of this plant detectable in sea wreck (5)

17. In blue taxi she perhaps can’t be emptied out (13)

19. In the end, tree might be gone into (7)

20. Tries to sort out the ceremonial observances (5)

DOWN

1. Pottery made fast for his red collection (13)

2. Obtain gift if replaced by Ecstasy (3)

3. Don’t accept any rubbish (6)

4. It’s easily said, if lace gets torn (6)

5. Longs to spend twelve months with the Poles (6)

6. It is a strong dislike to many: is one wrong? (9)

7. They may be alien cupbearers (6,7)

9. Efficient way to contend for a prize with the National Trust (9)

13. One cleaning a ring of steel (6)

14. It gives fifty-one to the pound, but it’s not solid (6)

15. A shackle from which an abstainer might get free (6)

18. A piece one got one’s teeth into (3)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Comma 4. Chapter 8. Laborious 9. Sic 10. Obliges

12. Fern 14. Stroked 17. Apex 18. Project 20. Inn 21. Continent

23. Monitor 24. Muted

Down: 1. Colloquialism 2. Mobile 3. Abrogate 4. Coo 5. Also

6. Taster 7. Reconstituted 11. Swoop 13. Hedonism 15. Pennon

16. Relent 19. Scat 22. Nor