CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

5/8 ACROSS

1. With a little science, a steak can be used to steal apples (6)

8. When half surrounded, a deserter shows great anger (5)

9. A strapping way to couple energy to work (7)

11. What narrator will do to a sneak (8)

12. Sergeant-major may annoy one with this expression (5)

15. Is so behind schedule, it’s dead (4)

16. Attempt to get Conservative to drop nothing (3)

17. Bacchic rite involved in major gymnastic event (4)

19. Happy look Monsieur perhaps lies about (5)

21. Country trip sighted by sea-voyagers (8)

24. Bored youth-leader put on a sun-shield (7)

25. Nothing missing from a rut but a number of trees (5)

26. One may trundle it along to the burial-mound (6)

DOWN

2. Personal magnetism shown by an amulet (5)

3. Is weakened, having had the cheek removed? (8)

4. So caring, one is now apathetic (4)

5. Drink first shandy with volition (5)

6. Buddhist priest turning up in ashram always (4)

7. May have torn hose, or something else afoot (4)

10. Verse composed by a friend may be considered separately (9)

12. The only fish Dover can supply? (4)

13. It’s no lord one may find living on public land (8)

14. Jekyll’s alter ego parked in London (4)

18. Still behind all? (5)

20. Fish, with nothing to follow? Yes: tongue (5)

21. Eleven parts of darts matches? (4)

22. There isn’t any approval for this corner (4)

23. One gambolling with Charles or Mary (4) SATURDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Easily 4. Skittish 9. Enrage 10. Antidote 12. Timepiece

13. Guide 14. Opera singers 18. Country dance 21. Rowan

22. Averaging 24. Colliery 25. Poseur 26. Energise 27. Bestow

1. Election 2. Strummed 3. Leg-up 5. Kindergarten

6. Triggered 7. Ironic 8. Heeded 11. Legionnaires 15. Abounding

16. Indigent 17. Hedgerow 19. Creche 20. Twelve 23. Above

Down: