Cryptic crossword
ACROSS
1 Extremely sarcastic youth leader with the Grim Reaper’s instrument (6)
5 Strike back with a position for the bludger (8)
9 The Spanish split the allowance for a family member (8)
10 The American followed the sailors to the biblical city of Turkey (6)
11 Almost arrive with potential but it requires negotiation (10)
12 Pinches small amounts of drink (4)
13 The gate, seen at last behind the placard (7) 15 Sniffs out the money on board (6)
16 The chap with one account is a madman (6)
18 Resist the adder (7)
20 Finishes and despatches not using the head (4)
21 Girls in the vicinity had close calls? (4,6)
24 Good igloo adapted for the womaniser (6) 25 Young animals always in the court infringements (8)
26 He’ll be extremely neat and very determined (4-4)
27 Take one’s time and waddle around (6)
DOWN
2 A belief in the sacred office (5)
3 The floozie put Bond’s boss into the carriage (5)
4 Perfect example of the time Poe redeployed (7)
5 The writer is up on a benefit (7)
6 The cads get the right tortes sorted out (7) 7 The cooker within the two streets is the most unusual (9)
8 The musician thinks initially of the odd apostle (9)
13 Clear, the Ma¯ori admitted four are mournful (9)
14 A European register – it could be jam-packed! (5,4)
17 Excuse the trick before it’s finished (7)
18 A garland for the President in the
wooden house (7)
19 Not affected by the development of a mud oven (7) 22 Cheat the prison warder (5) 23 Praise the former Old Testament character turning up (5)