THE CRYPTIC:
ACROSS
1. Progressive? Balls! A discarded remnant (8)
5. Territory runner – a bullet, perhaps (6)
10. Excited Pat scorns rivals at school competitions (6,9) 11. Directions: dog needs a bit of guts! (7)
12. Perfect score with a bit missing – but it could hang on! (7)
13. Firm agreement, time to take possession of a settlement north of Cairns (8)
15. Drugs for idiots (5)
18. Finally, Richard Wagner provides a song (5)
20. Urgent ironing (8)
23. Plot aliens, objects in space (7) 25. Amin held in trial – that’s as
neat as it gets! (7)
26. Corrupt plan, bits working for
trains and buses (6,9)
27. River amphibian – but a cad
(6)
28. Tape deck for the little Mama
in The Mamas and Papas? (8)
DOWN
1. Lift traps the Italian – pay attention! (6)
2. Principal access D (5,4) 3. Unpopular sponsor for the far west (7)
4. Do better than the others – the Romans said 40! (5)
6. Ruled and fell from the clouds, they say (7)
7. Tea and industrial relations for the man running the meeting (5)
8. Fidgety? Be more lively! (8) 9. American imposture – before time! (8)
14. Italian river up and down – situation contrary (8)
16. Quiet specialist, irrational fee for the birthday of the church (9)
17. Rag below covering for tent – it traps pests! (8)
19. Credit for English sin – it’s only a crack! (7)
21. Unhappy winners – they’re
perverts (7)
22. Work of art produces a turn in
the nation (6)
24. Range of morning drill (5)
25. Moss covers one jewelled
headdress (5)
Solution next week