CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Two coppers with honour remain at first proverbially cool (8)

5 Birth control pioneer prevents drug being introduced (6)

10 Synchronous pain she suffered (2-5) 11 PE sling needed when out to this bowling manoeuvre (3,4)

12 Provision made for unusual pique (5) 13 Polite enquiry heard from Dakota rugby union (3,3,3)

14 Spooner pens rot when reconnecting oneon-one (6-2-6)

17 Automatically approving of masseuse in a temper, perhaps (6,8)

21 Sweated? Peer drips deceit (9)

23 Zero speed? Have some get-up-and-go! (5) 24 Posting facility (7)

25 Riding on a donkey is Greek ship owner (7)

26 This sailor’s score at bowls wasn’t ducks (6) 27 I would be seen on the French loch doing nothing (8)

DOWN

1 Sound of bells of New York coming out of smokestacks (6)

2 Taking what’s appropriate during healing process (7)

3 Said to encounter former echo of mechanically recovered beef, say (4,5) 4 A long nozzle to drink with gets one plastered (9,5)

6 Fierce animal circles round about berk (5) 7 Father to demand return of fruit (7) 8 Optimistic to have poetically praised victory to audience (8)

9 Vacillate in attitude to disappointment over provision of running water (4,3,3,4) 15 MI5 is gone ape, having been trashed (9) 16 Put forward artists model, perhaps, to have sat for drawing (8)

18 Girl’s answer to two pubs in a row (7) 19 Respectful greeting to characterise entry of a saint (7)

20 Deep gaps appear in Charles’ writing (6) 22 Use leverage, we hear, to get trophy (5)