Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 03/11/2012

Published on 03/11/2012 03:08

Saturday’s puzzle...

ACROSS

1 In rapture hour epic was broadcast (8)

6 Attack price asked (6)

9 Extra with which cricket cannot be played (2-4)

10 Larger surplus as well (8)

11 Mud still not completely removed (4)

12 Long to have a word of agreement with navy (5)

13 Criminal might be given it after he takes it (4)

14 Where young children learn about growing plants (7,6)

17 Digit drawn by skater? (6,2,5)

20 Ruddy duck going back to waterway (4)

22 Has nearly surrounded long animal (5)

24 Someone I left inside, could be him (4)

25 Way to skid onto motorway? (4,4)

26 Spent force in Spain? (6)

27 Rigid court room (6)

28 Person expanding on optical equipment (8)

DOWN

2 More unrealistically hopeful (7)

3 Rather exciting in embrace on mat (9)

4 Race broadcast (5)

5 Firm group of actors (7)

6 One of two stories in the Old Testament (9)

7 No free-trade island? (5)

8 Jubilant despite breaking leg on damaged flue (7)

15 Like humans having come into existence on the ground (9)

16 Coordinator put drug inside dilapidated garrison (9)

17 I had accompanied priest into Foreign Office during opera (7)

18 Drove round the bend having little energy as it is late (7)

19 Order article about amended list (7)

21 Pedro’s unfortunately being tied up (5)

23 Cardinal not appearing in request to shock (5)

Friday’s solution:

Across: 1 A pat on the back, 10 Subtracts, 11 Lined, 12 Aconite, 13 Erasure, 14 Lather, 16 Humected, 18 Open fire, 20 Embryo, 23 Tressel, 24 Peckish, 26 Natal, 27 Flotation, 28 Set in concrete.

Down: 2 Pablo, 3 Turbine, 4 Nuclei, 5 Hesperus, 6 Bullace, 7 Conductor, 8 A small fortune, 9 I dread to think, 15 The kettle, 17 Prolific, 19 Fusilli, 21 Machair, 22 Uptown, 25 Idiot.

Last week’s solution:

Across: 1 Kick-off, 5 Cover up, 9 Play the fool, 10 Pod, 11 Match of the day, 14 Robing, 16 Kohlrabi, 18 Surgical, 19 Cuneal, 21 Wool-gathering, 24 Tub, 25 Desperation, 26 Royston, 27 Theatre.

Down: 1 Kept, 2 Charm, 3 Outstanding, 4 Fleshy, 5 Crowfoot, 6 Val, 7 Repudiate, 8 Paddy-field, 12 Hallucinate, 13 Freshwater, 15 Barrow boy, 17 Partisan, 20 Select, 22 Guilt, 23 Once, 25 Dot.