The Herald crosswords
ACROSS
1 With boot I push Clara roughly – she has a fear of confined spaces (14)
9 Or surround the alternative (5) 10 People from Italy and Nantes
I’ve distressed (9)
11 Warship liable to be
quarantined? (7)
12 Room for one small measure
kept in block (7)
13 Take risks when cut up (4)
14 Or different sage (9)
18 Long time in larder to make
splendid display (9)
20 Battery room (4)
22 Charges a size unit of engines
and functions (7)
25 Apex of building poor, oft
shabby (7)
26 Wrong number - turning sourer
outside (9)
27 Dodge nowadays taken in
by first lady (5)
28 Sadly, rocks delay colonists (14)
DOWN
1 Bend right into sofa (6)
2 Loathing endlessly hard and boring work (9)
3 Religious ceremony seen on the
tennis court? (7)
4 Engross wild boar inside paddle
steamer, eg (9)
5 Vessel I caught in sudden
alarm (5)
6 Month in Medoc to be
remembered (7)
7 Scientist Newton had one article
in the bag (5)
8 Though terribly rude, she is
shown to a seat (7)
15 Poetry she rewrites at
magician’s call (3,6)
16 Everyone I upset and make fun
of is uncomfortable (3,2,4)
17 Second appeal for aerosol (7)
19 Nacre is crushed to make
poison (7)
20 Arc over depression caused
by disease (7)
21 Notice featuring river flowing
back up fast (6)
23 Big rock holds up dog (5)
24 Cut second outgrowth (5)
ACROSS
1 Irritate, vex (6)
5 Layout (6)
8 Request for a reply
(inits) (4)
9 Welcoming (8)
10 Countermand (6)
11 Near and ready for use (2,4)
12 Slippery fishes (4)
14 Assist, help (3)
15 Frog-like creature (4) 16 Robber of ships at sea (6) 18 Private (6)
20 Fellow employee (8)
22 Mate (4)
23 Rice Krispies, eg (6) 24 Frames for windows (6)
DOWN
2 Follow as a result (5)
3 Morning dress hats (7)
4 Peel off in layers (9)
5 US crime agency (inits) (3)
6 Large cattle farm (5)
7 Capital of Georgia, USA (7) 11 Long-serving members of staff (3-6) 13 Instalment of a TV serial (7)
15 Strikes forcefully (7)
17 Foot joint (5)
19 Excite (5)
21 Every single one (3)