thecrosswords

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Day to terminate a close acquaintance (6) 4 Telescope for secret agent on a schooner? (8) 9 In turn it’s consumed with decay (6) 10 Being thorough, golf club has filled coaching job (8) 12 Vessel missed entrance to channel (4) 13 Shares the soup (5) 14 Arrange live coverage (4) 17 Business figures show what happens after a slump (5,7) 20 It’s used for oiling locks (12) 23 It may be taken as an indication of loyalty (4) 24 Serious but not grave (5) 25 Forbidden but a doctor provides it (4) 28 Don’t come - give support elsewhere (4,4) 29 Ignore reforms in the district (6) 30 Two articles gain colour being washed in soap (8) 31 Plastered and pebble-dashed? (6)

DOWN

1 Loses a game (8) 2 Sacked no doubt (2,3,3) 3 Minute mark (4) 5 They come down due to trouble in chat upstairs (12) 6 A natural aptitude is present (4) 7 Took advantage of American in a plot (6) 8 Last of the latecomers gets rotten seat (6) 11 A religious point to pursue (12) 15 A gem looks right in a ring (5) 16 Silly girl that is going out (5) 18 I act on it precisely to deliver commendation (8) 19 Made a comeback and was elected (8) 21 An organ two Poles come in to work (6) 22 It’s art of a sort but it lacks breadth (6) 26 Ready to tackle anything but work (4) 27 Fitting encounter (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Capital of Tasmania (6) 4 After a long time (2,6) 9 Provoke (6) 10 Aggressive patriotic fervour (8) 12 Fit of petty annoyance (4) 13 Unwieldy (5) 14 Helpful bit of evidence (4) 17 Momentous (5-7) 20 In various places (4,3,5) 23 Requirement (4) 24 Awry (5) 25 Applaud (4) 28 Ignore claims of (4,4) 29 Sphere of control (6) 30 Answer (8) 31 Unstintingly (6)

DOWN

1 Intensify (8) 2 Have reverse of desired effect (8) 3 Solemn observance (4) 5 Impervious to criticism (5-7) 6 Nervously irritable (4) 7 Macabre (6) 8 Large basket with hinged lid (6) 11 Total lack of pity (12) 15 Impudence (5) 16 Oneness (5) 18 Revealing (8) 19 Armaments (8) 21 Concealed marksman (6) 22 Against (6) 26 Game played on horseback (4) 27 Rain heavily (4)