CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Evening wear for east London games? (3, 4) 5. Become rigid and cross if you’re carrying this (6) 9. Place to bowl left within edges of crude crease (7) 10. France and Italy displayed weakness (7) 11. Old newspaper frequently appearing in poetry (3) 12. Pretty woman stops a report in order to get OPEC cash (11) 13. Fast ships (5) 14. Quiet men tend to keep energy reduced (9) 16. Peter Pan nervously hides old sheets for writing (9) 17. Oaf’s mild riposte now and then (5) 19. Top executive sacks old fellow for lacking care (11) 22. Mate goes round circuit (3) 23. Beware! Hooligan steals rings at weekend (4,3) 24. Opposed to profit when time is pressing (7) 26. Ill,not drinking in drunken orgy (6) 27. Doctor endures last customer (3, 4)

Down

1. Withdraw defender on holiday (4, 3) 2. Quick trip with time to absorb new spot-lit set (7-4,4) 3. Kind barrister loses head (3) 4 Shelter in street when this falls (5) 5. Slightly unwell and indecent (3-6) 6. Soldier has a kepi on at first, a military hat (5) 7. Burst of flak comes down twice over one disputed territory (8,7) 8. Cross young leader, British, concealed parcels (6) 12. Erect house (3, 2) 14. Special ‘Horrible History’ about prince shows fallacy (9) 15. Material woven into ‘Just William’ (5) 16. Wife about to leave Newcastle for Settle (6) 18. Tense priest annoyed adviser on course (7) 20. Where birds congregate in kangaroo’s territory (5) 21. Picture that is on the outside of magazine (5) 25. Assist unit during commercial (3)