Crosswords
CRYPTIC CLUES:
ACROSS
1 Just plating silver is insufficient (6) 4 Strike-breaking lawyers finally revealed the case for a weapon (8) 9 Dashed back to argue for contract (6) 10 Overwhelm United – an awful performance! (8) 12 Party's daring to sack leader (4) 13 Opportunity for buying cheap beer on board ship? (5) 14 Late developing river duck (4) 17 Opinions changing – in spite of vow (6,2,4) 20 Leave Ibiza, say, for a place of total seclusion (6,6) 23 Help to pack cold tart (4) 24 Small and friendly crowd on the move (5) 25 Creator can hold a necklace (4) 28 Keep a watch on goods vehicle in front (8) 29 Men without millions are inclined to sign up (6) 30 Marine lifeform has first to be cooked (8) 31 American farm butter? (6)
DOWN
1 The pitfalls of keeping quiet during religious incantations (8) 2 In France it's so long (2,6) 3 Decay found around old part of tooth (4) 5 Prisoner raves about rightwing school of music (12) 6 Offer to protect name to create an attachment (4) 7 Become aware of a trail left by boat heading for Norway (6) 8 Lives in valleys full of women (6) 11 Worried, so answered to retract what was said (3,4,5) 15 Different article taken aboard by soldiers (5) 16 Achievement eating second big meal (5) 18 Make sloe gin a source of motive power (8) 19 Prepared cadet due for review (8) 21 Cuts up vehicles covering view, oddly (6) 22 Struggle with names west of Albanian capital (6) 26 Two fellows supporting copper's blow (4) 27 Bargain crop (4)
Across
7.Supported by arms or threatened by them? (4,2) 8. Pot red mistakenly - it’s too much! (2,4) 10. It sinks beneath the waves (7) 11. Pale, and pass out (5) 12. Old Irish seer is reformed (4) 13. Bet a wit has with the Queen (5) 17. A bun before this social occasion would be plenty (5) 18. He provides some hot toddy (4) 22. Fastened, with some spirit (5) 23. Lead-on? (7) 24. Many take the bird to be cowardly (6) 25. Reform needed by shopkeepers (6)
Down
1. Rattle caused by a loose ratchet (7) 2. Budding salesman? (7) 3. Still, it’s quite unusual (5) 4. No longer bound to deliver (3,4) 5. It left Britain the centre of sensation (5) 6. Skewers end up on board (5) 9. Ring of the cheapest sort? (5,4) 14. Felt that an employee came first (7) 15. The art of eating out? (7) 16. Possibly sold one some Chinese food (7) 19. Pick for courage (5) 20. A bit of a fight (5) 21. The sailor turned up first to take a dip (5)