Cryptic crossword

ACROSS

1 Little Cyrus embracing the girl is stylish (6)

5 The dog I itemise as a boxer (8)

9 An animal to form outside the old city (8)

10 Step down regarding the placard (6)

11 Regulating the poem evaluation after the end of term (10)

12 Space to drop anchor when returning (4)

13 Enquire about a disturbed Far East king (3,5)

16 A particular small despatch of soldiers (6)

17 Took off with a plant that’s gone to seed (6)

19 Chips Mr Fleming gets – could be bull! (8)

21 The traitors back the celebrity (4)

22 Unhappy to arrest these type of workers (4-6)

25 A motto arranged for the love apple (6) 26 A soccer player needing a bib? (8)

27 ... only holding the shilling furtively (2,3,3)

28 Protects a drug’s development (6)

DOWN

2 Left Jason’s ship at a slow tempo (5) 3 Keats is upset with the post (5)

4 I hear one of the flock could serve – it’s a threat (3,4)

5 The first performance was cut short for the Prime Minister (7)

6 Fumed after Georgia put the car away (7)

7 A cobblers’ ceremonies before departing? (4,5) 8 An Italian woman could sing on air awkwardly (9)

14 Lacking an instrument, that’s neat! (9)

15 Consequences following the shortened school subject (9)

18 Name debts that are questionable (7)

19 Located the railway factory (7) 20 Moving slowly to tip off the stealing (7)

23 Part of Bengali bragged of the constellation (5)

24 A noodle that’s leading the rest (5)

WIN

A $50 gift card goes to the first correct entry opened for Barbara Brown’s Weekend

Prize Crossword. Send it in an envelope with your name and address to Your Weekend Prize Crossword, Stuff, PO Box 6341, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141 or email answers to cryptic@stuff.co.nz. The competition closes at noon on Friday.

Winner of the $50 voucher for crossword 542 on January 12, is Lynne Andrews from Christchurch.