NO WINNER THIS WEEK!!

ACROSS 5. FORGED not formed. FORGED links up with “made into a certain shape.” But formed doesn’t have to apply to “a certain shape.” It could mean making a new friendship, for example. 6. PAGE not wage. “Considerable comment” is probably too mild a reference to the reaction that a “new,” “small” wage would arouse in the “staff.” Realistically, there might well be bitter complaint instead. PAGE is best. 7. EAST not past. “Relics” are “from the” past, making past redundant. EAST is a better answer. 9. PLOT not plow. PLOT is apt. A “farmer” is “behind” the wheel of a “farm” vehicle, rather than behind the plow. 11. SAY not saw. It’s vital that the witnesses SAY what they saw in order for it to be considered “a fact,” or evidence. Therefore, SAY is a stronger answer than saw. 16. WINS not wits. The clue word “competitive” links up directly with WINS. Even noncompetitive athletes need to have intelligence (e.g., wit) to do well at their sport. 19. LEDGE not hedge. A “strong” LEDGE for display purposes might well enhance the “exterior.” Grammatically speaking, one refers to a thick hedge, rather than a “strong” one.

DOWN 1. LEAD not head. In a race, the “athlete’s” LEAD might be “cut after he stumbles.” A stumble doesn’t always result in the victim hitting the ground; therefore, the athlete might not have “cut” his head at all. 2. SOLO not polo. The clue phrase “in a game” is redundant in terms of polo. Not all SOLO positions are played in a game. For instance, one can play an instrument or sing a SOLO. 3. DELAY not decay. DELAY “can be a big factor when it comes to tooth problems,” but decay is a problem, not just a “factor.” 4. MELLOW not bellow. MELLOWING is generally something that happens over time, which fits well with the reference to “young” since, over time, the “angry” “man might” MELLOW. However, “young,” middle-aged and old people could all bellow, “depending on the circumstances.” 8. TEARS not teams. It’s specific players who usually display their tempers, not the entire team. TEARS is a good fit. 10. RAM not dam. A RAM “should be strong if a lot of power is expected.” Usually, a dam is “strong” because it has been built to specifications that make certain that’s the outcome. 12. TRACED not traded. “Counterfeit bills aren’t” actually traded at all. They’re given in exchange for something else. TRACED is a solid answer. 13. DINING not diving. The clue implies that this is basically a pleasurable “thing,” but it could “become too much of a good thing,” thereby spoiling its enjoyment. This links up well with DINING. In the field of professional diving, difficulty and danger are often part of a diver’s experience. 15. RACE not rage. There is nothing in the clue to suggest that the reason “the person” is “in a” rage is due to a rival. There are many other circumstances besides “rivals” that would cause a person to be enraged. RACE makes a straightforward answer. 16. BREAD not bream. “Customers” might not order a fish like bream, as opposed to not touching it; whereas, BREAD is often close at hand on the table so that diners can easily reach for it (i.e., “touch it”).