Cryptic Crossword

ACROSS

8 Serf is of use — finishes off grave (7)

10 Revered Indian bowler, say, hugged by mother (7)

11 Artificially neat prose? (9) 12 Pass loaf I had cut (2, 3) 13 Equipment for dive in southern part of Caribbean (5) 14 Needing to diet, put back cheese in cloth (7)

17 Something handled in court — swindle involving inferior china? (9, 6)

19 Sun’s effect on selected players that produces traction on board (7)

21 Influence idiot’s shown over university (5)

24 Weapon almost in danger of dropping off if turned round (5) 26 Restore to power to control country (9)

27 End labour that’s free (7) 28 Claret’s being drunk, or other variety of red (7)

DOWN

1 Poor learners succeeded in test (6)

2 Put forward for consideration in opposition to euro? (8)

3 Briefly write about vessel with damaged sail as reporter (10)

4 It’s crucial to bring exemplary worker into country (9)

5 It may be said to limit supply of drink — in what circumstances? (4)

6 Small piece of furniture, unlike rocker? (6)

7 It’s used to convey kinds of water, in short, with skill (8)

9 Number boy before girl, initially (4)

15 Foreign money I examine for person in order to follow vocation (10)

16 Plan for trip, I hear, around popular time (9)

17 Support team that’s behind (8)

18 King, at this point, accomplished what’s within grasp (8)

20 Not well presented in one part of speech or another (6)

22 Carried out move in second half for City, producing score (6)

23 Audible disapproval, some of which is savage (4)

25 Star on stage opposed to splitting donated money up (4)