CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1 Met up with some people who come across at speed (3,4)

5 Manage to 24 across, at the end of a case (7)

9 In condition, so feel the power in earnest (7)

10 Make plans to have a run on the field (7)

11 Was Irene about to be in charge, briefly, in working on a peace-making message? (9)

12 Start to have a close relative in one's own stamping ground (5)

13 A little girl led off with very old volley (5)

15 A Greek character tailed off, over time, and was cut up (9)

16 Remain as good as new, when unprocessed (4,5)

18 Return to stage a production, but is not in residence (3,2)

21 Head off agent with player, at some stage (5)

22 Agrees to get organisation to isolate others (9)

24 Manage to join up with detailed 5 across (7)

26 Playing slowly and evenly like a new Italian poet (7)

27 Ends up with unique selling point, in short,

and had to stop for a while (7) 28 At this time, at present, one's out of the

running (7)

Down

1 They are on the attack with one among the troopers (7)

2 One's the obvious choice. In fact, she's a certainty (7)

3 Name one new character working with a thin fabric (5)

4 Handed out too much in order to have made amends (15)

5 It's not the 2 down inclination to go the wrong way (7,3,5)

6 May have to run to a rocky height (3)

7 To manage some players, one has to behave (7)

8 Is chosen to keep one in place by a majority (7)

12 A bright girl, in fact, was wearing the lenten rose (5)

14 Volunteer to provide support , in advance

(5)

16 Turn some stations into building-sites (7)

17 At first, takes care, so one pays attention (7)

19 Was one about to enter with a new recruit? (7)

20 Did the President have to go back, or go before? (7)

23 At last old woman could provide support (5)

25 Some were prevented from entry the night before (3)