CROSSWORD

QUICK CLUES

Across 3. Omission (9) 8. Adore (4) 9. Conventionalist (9) 10. Regular (6) 11. Electricity distribution network (5)

14. Betting odds (5)

15. Deceive (4)

16. Accurate (5)

18. Finishes (4)

20. Fruit (5)

21. Commence (5)

24. Set aside (6)

25. Marriage (9)

26. Aquatic bird (4)

27. Perfect specimen (9)

Down 1. Looted (9) 2. Expenses (9) 4. Instrument (4) 5. Dance (5) 6. Within a country (6) 7. Multitude (4) 9. Untrue (5) 11. Signified (5)

12. Fan (9)

13. The accused (9) 17. Having a pleasant flavour (5) 19. Stiffen (6)

22. Send (5)

23. Just (4)

24. Clip (4)

CRYPTIC CLUES

Across

3. An error of management (9)

8. What's the score? Nothing – but it can lead to marriage! (4) 9. A stickler for rules, he can make a catalogue (9)

10. It's not unusual for some to be men or males (6)

11. Chief conductors? (5)

14. It's odd if they're really odds (5)

15. Cheat out of being fed up every time (4)

16. Former stage turn made quite precise (5)

18. Concludes with goals, perhaps (4)

20. The fruit of temptation (5)

21. Begin to jump (5)

24. Point to colour kept in reserve (6)

25. No state of singlemindedness (9)

26. Bird sounds to be wheeling (4)

27. Original type could have been cheery and apt (9)

Down 1. Robbed of plot half under editor's short composition (9) 2. Incomprehensible business expenses? (9) 4. Instrument to lose in another (4)

5. Odd graduate gives a dance (5)

6. Lad goes to inn befuddled, but not at sea (6)

7. Does he always entertain a big crowd? (4)

9. Such fleas are not genuine (5) 11. Intended to be niggardly mostly (5) 12. Adherent may drink with the doorkeeper (9) 13. Protect worker who is accused (9)

17. In fact as typified by something savoury (5) 19. Good man assumes roguish stiffness (6)

22. Merit pardon (5)

23. Can't dark-haired people be impartial, then? (4)

24. Cut up things with sharp points (4)