Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 22/03/2012

By HUGH JOHNSON
Published on 22/03/2012 00:00

Thursday’s puzzle...

ACROSS

1 Continue on one way, as usual (8)

5 Procession might be cut short over one day (6)

9 One sin (and vice) turned out to be critical (8)

10 Burns, we’re told, was disqualified (6)

12 Raced round a row of shops under cover (6)

13 Spread over new type of material (5)

16 Before taking on new firm, call for repeat performance (6)

17 Some girls have to figure out how to break up (8)

20 True pear was grown in small crevice (8)

21 Did top grade spear bounce off, in a flash? (6)

23 Right-back had to stop forward progress (5)

25 Was course of action cut short by first engineer, in force? (6)

28 Insists on having a perfect square (6)

29 To go on with study, can turn by the end (8)

30 People in general have alternative explanation (6)

31 Executes, with stops on the way (5,3)

DOWN

1 Have to fabricate square bolt (4)

2 Vault located in a popular church (4)

3 Old soldier had to treat Reds, unfortunately (6,3)

4 Open up in order to display exhibit (6)

6 Profit from a film, according to the audience (5)

7 Ian learned about a stimulating hormone (10)

8 Aim to get fired up, having tempted fate (10)

11 In my daily newspaper, I’ll see the writing on the wall (5)

14 Set off with some soldiers before the first division (10)

15 Open up, to facilitate forward progress (10)

18 When called upon, I closed it up (9)

19 Gives up right to work inside empty depots (5)

22 Use a long inlet as a suitable haven (6)

24 Choose to drop depth charge to prevent attack (5)

26 Keen on getting popular books returned (4)

27 Bank on putting in some more effort (4)

Yesterday’s solutions:

Across: 1 Orange Free State, 9 Flivver, 10 Enchant, 11 Anaemia, 12 Terrace, 13 For the most part, 15 Nuclear reactor, 21 Witness, 22 Prudish, 23 Year dot, 24 Unction, 25 Desperate plight.

Down: 1 Off-day, 2 Agitato, 3 Give me the needle, 4 Furnace, 5 Electro, 6 Security council, 7 Alabama, 8 Entreaty, 14 Unswayed, 16 Cutlass, 17 Rosetta, 18 Espouse, 19 Opining, 20 Thanet.