CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

AGONISING OVER ANSWERS?

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ACROSS

1 Draws together with Spades instead of Clubs, making distinctions (9)

6 Do a good turn to an old convict in a forced labour camp (5)

9 A man leads us in good order. It’s entertaining (7)

10 Had to get a group performing without restraint (7)

11 Have a super outcome as a prize in the ring (5)

12 Try hard to get a vendor to turn up, at the end (9)

13 Force a capital school to get it all wrong (5) 14 Change the last word to get the first degree for some workers, at the end (9) 17 Is motionless, up to a point, displaying tranquility (9)

19 Help to make a repair at the start of 14 across (5)

21 Did a unit log in wrongly, when producing a blueprint? (9)

24 May collect a large amount at a service (5) 26 Is market garden created by tender on track? (7)

27 Sign on the dotted line, beginning with the original (7)

28 At the end, sleep around, needing prescriptions (5) 29 Hid gentle characters until things brightened up (9)

DOWN

1 Taps into a politician to get a title-holder, in short (5)

2 Is forced to run late, being nonaligned (7) 3 After a pay rise, he will cause trouble (5,4) 4 Second eleven started with a boy at the final venue, to set them apart (9)

5 Try to stay upright in the last Anderson shelter (5)

6 To turn into Africna country, having lost heart, could bear fruit (5)

7 Two boys, at the end, joined forces to capture a robber (7)

8 Having brought things into existence, produced lots of energy (9) 13 Softened up, getting round, when all dressed up (9)

15 It’s not difficult to leave in good order when one’s laid-back (4-5)

16 To put on a show, at last, is time to call for a playwright (9)

18 Sent in right away to see hospital physicians in the US (7)

20 Head off with aunt or uncle with some enthusiasm (7)

22 Have some thoughts on how to get inside a school (5)

23 Practise DIY with two trainees having a wonderful time (5)

25 Disposed of one going inside to be quite secure (5)