CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 7623

Down

Down ACROSS

1. Of the same standard, virtually (2,4,2). 6. Mum doesn’t finish off the insect (4). 8. Tied up, be given no food (4).

9. Being bookish, is rarely wrong about it (8). 10. A piece about South Africa? Yes: could be (5). 11. Not even diffiddent about being inferior (6). 13. Punished for having been defeated? (6). 15. The S in “sec” (That’s smart!) (6). 17. Would seeing it in a pram give one a shock? (6).

19. A mild “A Key, Boy? Good gracious!” (5). 22. Go to pieces when a new loss is revealed and plunge out (8). 23. Look peeved at finding a page removed (4). 24. Say you didn’t have a home the year after (4). 25. Did intern the soldier, but was in two minds about it (8).

DOWN

2. Rows of gaiters (5). 3. Going off to us about the stray cat: one nobody wants (7). 4. Stupid and boring (4). 5. Annul, having prepared new ideas (3,5). 6.He’s come from Italy for a change of air, the doctor holds (5). 7. Astride, hurling streams of abuse (7). 12. Opened with a nude swimmer capturing an aquatic animal (8). 14. Cut back on my own study (7). 16. In the case of the divorcee, more than enough (7). 18. Irritated and upset, try, but there’s no heart in it (5). 20. Think about a hole and it may bring one to mind! (5). 21. Had gone half a mile on foot (4).

CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 7622 - SOLUTIONS Across

- 1, Mere. 7, Pad-locked. 8, W-ag-e. 9, Stun (rev). 10, Do-or. 11, (b)Rita(in). 14, March winds. 16, Reads music. 19, Ha-t-s. 22, Spa-r. 24, Lead. 25, Er’s-e. 26, Liquid air. 27, Peak.

- 1, Mower (more). 2, Right. 3, Ca-sto-r. 4, F-linch. 5, I-c-ed. 6, Second set. 12, In Des-pair. 13, A-m-id. 15, In-ch. 17, Melod-y. 18, S’ta-ti-c (rev). 20, Ag-re-e. 21, Steak (stake). 23, R-o-ut.

QUICK PUZZLE NO. 7622 - SOLUTIONS Across

- 1, Read. 7, Structure. 8, Grim. 9, Bait. 10, Mint. 11, Dais. 14, Contradict. 16, Instructor. 19, Nude. 22, Damp. 24, Rare. 25, Idle. 26, Schoolboy. 27, Fret.

- 1, Rigid. 2, Alibi. 3, Strain. 4, Butter. 5, Atom. 6, Transcend. 12, Abundance. 13, Scut. 15, Darn. 17, Unruly. 18, Turbot. 20, Under. 21, Event. 23, Prod.