Cryptic crossword PUZZLES

ACROSS

5 Almost tipsy, with a few being obsequious (7)

7 Unusually sore about one willow (5)

9 Furnace left in the family (4)

10 Decrepit and unhappy after the fall (10)

11 Raced around the back section when short of funds (8) 13 Pub in a scorching part of Australia (6)

15 An examination on ocean racing, at least initially (4)

17 Van Dyke perhaps recklessly braved losing five (5)

18 A major or minor constellation starts to upset really serious academics (4)

19 Swung with a type of leather reportedly (6)

20 Steals bits of songs (8)

23 Pullover behind an interminable athlete (4,6)

26 Country of the French sailor (4)

27 Jack is in the church I hear (5)

28 The song could quieten a heartless boy (7)

DOWN

1 Unable to see the friend framing the Egyptian leader, there’s only one way out of it! (5,5)

2 Could be a tame side (4)

3 Court the apprentice she’d found on the farm (8)

4 The discovery was penalised aloud (4)

5 Slight pretence by the sound of it (5)

6 The revamped panto is available (2,3)

8 Almost embarrassed over the minors’ prizes (7)

12 Sketches the grass that comes up (5)

14 A type of worker, down on the neckband (4-6)

16 Argue over the rugby position attached to the boat (7) 17 Smeared gold within twin beds (8)

21 The month the pair unfortunately left (5)

22 Upset by one wood (5)

24 Got around a buck perhaps (4)

25 The cloth on the coffin could lose its attraction (4)

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 St, Auckland 1141 or email answers to cryptic@stuff.co.nz. The competition closes at noon on Friday and the solution will be published next week. Winner of the $50 voucher for crossword 662 on May 29 is Kathy Clarke from Lincoln. Congratulations, Kathy.