Cryptic crossword
ACROSS
1 Second church doctrine is a long piece of writing (6)
5 A Shakespearean character could be successful with nothing (8)
9 It’s not fair when the thug holds ten back (8)
10 Faints when the boys admit the couple lose the opener (6)
11 Destroy the old boy who’s erudite (10) 12 Fish a bully leaves to get the rooster (4) 13 A spare is needed for the apartment in front of the Lebanon port (4,4)
16 I nosed around the American inventor (6)
17 It’s off to prepare to fight and it’s up to settle an account (6)
19 Stopped being silly when they noticed the smell perhaps (3,5)
21 The American is after half a pint for a Pope (4)
22 Fielders stay in the Bermudas (10) 25 Signora is disturbed at losing one garment (6)
26 Ernest initially regrets upsetting the welcoming people (8)
27 They do bridge work, but cause terrible dissent around the end of August (8)
28 Turnover for an Old Testament book in South America (6)
DOWN
2 The tree for an awkward cobra (5) 3 There’s tedium among the Methven nuisances (5)
4 I’d reversed over the railway, uncertain what to do (7)
5 The prologue where they step around the referee (7)
6 Part of the play following the beginnings of the Old Bill is disgusting (7) 7 Ban the professional writer (9) 8 Encounter when they scurry from one side to the other (3,6)
14 Convert to cash 51 nicker and chowed down (9)
15 Raced after the team leader on the game vehicle (9)
18 Standards for officers (7) 19 They’re used to clean cakes (7) 20 The French interrupt the wags, it’s daft (7)
23 Add up half of them for the pole (5) 24 The capital is under par (5)