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ACROSS

1 Couples take him out to an international contest won by 6 down (7,3) 7 End up with a leading academic

or sports star, commonly (4) 9 Did she train up nags with little

energy? (5) 11 Serving up ace after one in a

small restaurant (9) 14 Aquatic animal can get round road race, with little hesitation (5) 15 Misery felt by Wolves, Oldham

and Exeter, initially (3) 17 Sam drowns out a fencer,

perhaps (9) 18 Drink for a piebald horse, but

not round there (4) 19 Love to get to a party about to

finish (5) 22 Can 7 across get it organised in

a Championship stadium? (9) 24 Secure a victory, once more (5) 26 Have a little drink in Swindon,

Ipswich and Preston, initially (3) 27 Intend to get some players to

take on top athlete (4) 28 Did Irene go out with a Bond

fellow (5) 30 The target for one of the Waugh

brothers (4) 31 Earn est was determined to be

sober, to be honest (7) 32 The last line of defence for Celtic and Scotland (5,6)

DOWN

1 Backtheplayerskeptin

reserve, as it were (6,4) 2 Red playing out wide, in the past

(4-6) 3 At the last minute, sent out to

train up. It delights the crowd

(10) 4 Dams need to use ram-jets, on

the way back (5) 5 Had no warning that the girl

might have to wear out (7) 6 Team beating 16 down to win

the 1 across (3) 8 Tried, we’re told, to get old Man

U and Scotland striker (4) 10 US soldier led men, in the end,

into a trap (3) 12 Thelastheavyweightcouldbe

in college (4) 13 Adumbartonplayer,inshort,

took issue (3) 16 Team losing to 6 down in the 1

across (6) 17 Heath resort located in part of

Spain (3) 20 Was Verdi trained to compete in

the pool? (5) 21 Old Testament prophet, in fact,

relied on others (3) 23 Is about to run a Grand Prix

vehicle (3) 25 Describe former name of one

European player (3) 27 Spoilthefirstpartof30across,

or 4 down (3) 29 Indicate one agrees fellow can

make a comeback (3)