MINI SUDOKU

H✩✩✩✩ COMPLETE the grid so that every row, each column and each 2 x 3 box contains every digit from 1 to 6. Solution tomorrow.

ACROSS

1 Pompous type dithers terribly pursuing matter (7,5) 8 Studio swallowed story by director finally (7) 9 Note Catholic monarch’s absent (7) 11 Delay South American retirement payment (10) 12 Fox devours a tailless amphibian (4) 14 Polish suspect crosses road to get peer’s address (8) 16 Chat about regular features of biggest puzzle (6) 17 Obstruction allowed (3) 19 This GT needs replacement hose (6) 21 A step got refurbished supporter at entrance (8) 24 Star, so I’ve heard, is out of work (4) 25 Ponder food shop carpet (10) 27 Savage cougar nearly eats an Andean wool supplier (7) 28 State beginning to manage antiquated female cells (7) 29 Magnetic ore distorted variable source of power (6,6)

DOWN

1 Poet writes in series … (7) 2 … one short stanza in one college (10) 3 Canvas to be bought, some might say (8) 4 Helping party raise vote (6) 5 Break into computer of reporter (4) 6 Devastating ballgame in America, winning nothing (7) 7 Like shrieks from patients girl treated? (3-9) 10 Fail? He won’t, oddly, having two gods around (2,4,3,3) 13 Where oenophile turns red regularly? (4,6) 15 What’s seen on line quietly, say (3) 18 Charm explorer circling large island (8) 20 Courageous good worker defending everyone (7) 22 Pray here for a party member heading off (7) 23 20 like epic verse (6) 26 Cultivate remote mountaintop (4)