Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 20/09/12

7 In position to play first on network (5)

8 Sets off to ignite second blasts (9)

10 Organise wall to end up as a score draw (3-3)

11 Volunteering to sacrifice 17 across (8)

12 The Foreign Office permitted loss of associate, and succeeded (8)

13 Enthusiastic about getting son Old Latin degree (4)

15 Came over, at short notice, to the final scholarly world (7)

17 Suggest pressing on with promotion (7)

20 Oath expressed, for example, nowadays (4)

22 Falling behind the first barrier (8)

25 Characterised by the final flight (8)

26 Support the standard of newspaper commentary (6)

27 Map out European police in time (9)

28 Feeling of terror in the gangster world (5)

DOWN

1 Sluggish type put the brakes on the bus (9)

2 Scratched leading swimmer, having moved slowly (8)

3 About to have strings attached to documents (7)

4 Although in focus, end up quite perplexed (8)

5 Friend took over fragment on guard duty (6)

6 Is inclined to depend on second lists (5)

9 Current course following at ground level (4)

14 Cut back limit to make both ends meet (9)

16 Created all the more, having smoothed things over (4,4)

18 Did everyone have a desire from the beginning? (3,5)

19 Setters forced to go along public roads (7)

21 Have good scope to make the opening move (6)

23 Vault over a catholic house (4)

24 Piece of advice on how to manage a bullock (5)

Yesterday’s solution:

Across: 1 Book-debt, 5 Voices, 10 Bygones, 11 Opaquer, 12 Linda, 13 Desertion, 14 Market research, 17 Creme de la creme, 21 Driftwood, 23 Nasal, 24 Meissen, 25 Uncured, 26 Augury, 27 Open-eyed.

Down: 1 Bubble, 2 Organza, 3 Don’t ask me, 4 Beside the point, 6 On air, 7 Courier, 8 Scrunchy, 9 Hop step and jump, 15 Eirenicon, 16 Academia, 18 Exiting, 19 Miserly, 20 Eluded, 22 Taser.

Grid 19