Crpytic crossword - The Scotsman 28/01/2012

ACROSS

1 Lacrosse quartet playing short distance away (2,5,8)

9 Cake teetotallers can’t eat? (5)

10 In the same eastern country a peninsula consisting of several countries (9)

11 Two pounds accepted by nude performing had not been validated (6)

12 Running battle? (4,4)

14 In the direction of a dead amphibian (4)

15 Plant others take to school (10)

18 Bless non-clerical worker, junior (3,5,2)

19 Crofter’s cottage inhabitant? (4)

21 Coat Lily moved into place (8)

23 Once it was the capital of Spain (6)

25 Coming from Inverness with timidity (9)

26 Some drastic action needed on plants (5)

27 Concludes slater somehow was not bothered in the least (7,4,4)

DOWN

1 Tactical line Ann adopted here after a birthday! (9,6)

2 Clay April removed from tube (9)

3 Gaseous element discovered by some foxy general (6)

4 Give out when time’s up (4)

5 Had a sympathetic perception below, also in South Dakota (10)

6 Carriage for Richard’s fruit (8)

7 Lady from USA taking morning off (5)

8 Having touched a sea-creature on the lips according to the song (6,4,1,4)

13 Convenience food is when one is hungry (5,2,3)

16 Appreciating fine things coming from her crèche (9)

17 Blow coming from behind (8)

20 Recover engineer’s letter (6)

22 Copper caught alternative female on island (5)

24 Some Australasian, but not from here (4)