{ THE CROSSWORDS }
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
1 Team result is not the main topic of conversation (4,5)
8 Be careful one is told, explosives have been laid (5)
9 Detestable fault he corrected (7)
10 Accent which may need polishing (6)
11 Giving up selecting the best players, we hear (6)
12 Refreshing article in a French newspaper (8) 15 The loss in fuel is gigantic (8)
18 Peers squeal when excited (6)
20 Lunge out strongly and overwhelm (6)
21 Object after tips turn out to be the salary (7) 22 State from which I had returned with love (5) 23 Russian fighter and sailor going to another country (9)
DOWN
2 I rave in a bad temper (5)
3 Shutter usually closed at night (6)
4 Settles cosily with arms up and legs round (8) 5 It needs to grow by more development (6) 6 Megan is confused by riddles (7)
7 The followers stand here when assembled (9) 11 Made a timely entrance? (7,2)
13 He should be arrested lest more trouble is caused (8)
14 Ice and gale expressed in poetic form (7) 16 When models that have lost their shape are employed? (6)
17 From where one is advised how to recycle paper (6)
19 A brief note with direction for making fabric (5)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 Without warning (3,2,4) 8 Absurd proceedings (5) 9 Authorise (7)
10 Portray (6)
11 Regular (6)
12 In full production (2,6) 15 Taciturn (8)
18 Surrounded by (6) 20 Comprehend (6)
21 Small amount (7)
22 Blaspheme (5)
23 At extremely low price (4-5)
DOWN
2 Ultimate extent (5)
3 Open acknowledgment (6) 4 Individually (3,2,3)
5 Bring about (6)
6 Judge (7)
7 Mawkishness (9)
11 Sell at a loss (9)
13 Begin to do (3,5)
14 Moral greatness (7)
16 Shut (6)
17 Conclusion (6)
19 Composer of marches (5)