Crossbar

No 1,597

ACROSS

1 Romans in a state of disarray, losing 2-0 to 1 down (3,6)

10 About to take a break in a downhill run (6)

11 North America and South America join the space programme (4)

13 Pair on the green, in fact, won the game (3)

15 Ricardo played for a team in London, not Birmingham (5)

16 Monica, for example, looks to take on a leading lady (5)

17 Glanced sideways at old Man City striker ahead of a Man U player (6)

20 Home venue for a penultimate game in the Cup (4)

22 Was there to see a road race finish (6)

24 Along-distancerunnerfailedto score, at the end (4)

25 Head off clever bowler for Lancashire and England in the past (5)

27 Southafricanplayers disheartened. It drains their energy (4) 28 Is it painful to go South or East? (4) 30 Sharpens up at the end, to be truthful (6)

31 Deserters return to an old Russian ruler (4)

32 Dread to upset a teller, for instance (5)

33 Flat out in a three-day-event (4) 34 Was a senior officer in charge, for the most part? (7,4)

DOWN

1 Can get lost over one day, but still beat 1 across 2-0 (8)

2 Cultural pursuits for 31 across, in a way (4)

3 See fresh enthusiasm from a testplaying team (3,7)

4 Runners,jumpersandthrowers are on track (8)

5 Drives into some Los Angeles players in the NFL (4)

6 Venue for two former Highland League teams now united (9)

7 Pins opponents down with new sail unfurled (5)

8 Make-up, at some stage, is returned to team-mates (4)

9 Games involving teams aiming at final stages of Euro 2020 (10)

12 Supporters on track for success after a slow start (8)

14 Stroke, for example, getting into a rowing boat (3)

18 Record a second lyric poem on occasion (7)

19 Blot out extra serve covered by a north-east runner (6)

21 Spoil some of the leading lights in Margate (3)

23 Tent designed, at last, to record Eastern European leaders (5)

26 Elector arranged veto, right at the end (5)

29 Nearly included an aristocrat, as it were (4)

30 Old witch started out at Hamilton, Ayr and Gala (3) Winner of the £30 Love To Shop vouchers last week was Graham Denhowt, Melrose.

Entries to: Crossbar competition, The Scotsman, 30 Queensferry Road, Edinburgh EH4 2HS. The winner’s name and solution will be published next Monday. The Scotsman Publications Ltd employees and their families are not eligible. The Editor’s decision is final.