Crossbar

No 1,603

ACROSS

1 Free-scoring batsmen are like officers in the Roman legions (10)

6 In a muddled state, like a Barcelona star dropping one in front of a little boy... (6)

8 ...and played a card game a long way in front of a first officer (4)

10 Made smart production in Ajax’s home city (9)

14 Some write more in a short sports report (4)

15 Wild cats at home in Carolina’s NFL team (8)

17 Poles lead on old Celtic midfielder (3) 18 Old dean appearing among church singers (4)

19 Made up large reward for success on the track (5)

22 Offer advance, in fact, to get The Girls of Slender Means (4)

24 Find a bakery 14 across; a piece is easy to do (4)

26 Require new runner from the north east to make a comeback (4)

27 Find a way to reach second large plant, at the end (6)

28 Georgia, in short, took one person out to an Asian Grand Prix venue (9)

29 Disparage two Poles, always at the end (5)

30 Goes down the river as a team, but has disputes (4)

31 Have to take a step back to pick out the favourites (4)

32 Old England defender guided one in three different directions (4)

DOWN

1 Title-holders from all four SPFL divisions, not just one (9)

2 Does she appear among them? May do in a novel (4)

3 Second-hand 14 across kept in the house, downstairs (4)

4 Designate a Japanese drink for one with the same title (8)

5 Giro used by cyclists going round in southern Europe (4,2,5)

7 Condition of Florida, Texas and Montana, for instance (5)

8 Football body, in short, had a model who was overweight (3)

9 Red spirit shown by legendary chaser (3)

11 Was unattached, but could play in a tennis match (6)

12 Regret playing for Utrecht, Real and Exeter, initially (3)

13 Sporting or not, they have a role to play on board (9)

16 Mean to include one in a European national team (7)

20 It sounds as if this English team is on top, but it lost out in the play-offs (5)

21 See round a new long-distance runner in France (5)

23 Moves gradually to take up position on the boundaries (5)

25 Dart used commonly in a local game (5)

27 Notice that a runner left a good fellow (4)

Last week’s winner of the £30 Love To Shop vouchers will be published with next week’s Crossbar.

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.