CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Exactly what is needed in employment (4,3,3) 6 Business not yielding to pressure (4)

9 Bill in the train transported coal (10)

10 Witches caught missing something to cook? (4) 13 Coming from the desert, Sarah, an eccentric (7)

15 Duck not about to become friend (6)

16 Means to arrange ambush (6) 17 Tried bringing famous racehorse back – it’s criminal! (9,6)

18 Aileen rattled another woman (6)

20 Story about abstainer’s gossip (6)

21 Hard work keeping a number in tow (7)

22 NSW money? (4) 25 Valuation that could be taxing (10)

26 The lady’s love idol (4)

27 One searching for gold has wide view on most of raw material (10)

DOWN

1 Frenchman in short trousers (4) 2 Reportedly takes a seat in bath (4)

3 Jack twice finds deposit (6) 4 Wives apparently in angry or frank discussion (8,2,5) 5 Bandit released code (6) 7 Overrule patient loathing leaving hospital (10)

8 Payment method that could make Rodney more confused (5,5)

11 Small measure, it’s as broad as it’s long (6,4)

12 Male history teacher? (4,6) 13 FBI agents appearing in set piece (7)

14 Frank is unaffected (7) 19 One gets rid of letters from Queen after ages (6) 20 What’s good at absorbing blows? (6)

23 Attend strike (4)

24 Mix thoroughly in jug (4)