Cryptic crossword

ACROSS

6 Quite a few cut nearly all (7)

7 Step around the referee to get the introduction (7)

9 Dark until remodelled (5)

10 The beat of the heart is affected by this early leader

(9)

11 The play about church gets foreign money (7)

13 Waits in line to get pool sticks reportedly (6)

15 Nipping behind the copper is mean (5-8)

19 I vary a damaged bird enclosure (6)

20 A ban on the eastern doctor approaching Jason’s ship (7)

23 Present later and from this time forward (9)

24 Arrest the old boy, a wealthy man (5)

26 Resolved the daughter is behind the couch (7)

27 Broken-down nag at this place, a West Coast locality

(7)

DOWN

1 It’s harmful in Mandeville (4)

2 The pitiable person could throw up by the sound of it

(6)

3 Irresponsible friends backed the dwarf (4-5)

4 Vicar turns up before the opening to get a Martini ingredient (8)

5 The sponsor admits the stream won’t get immediate attention here (4,6)

6 Teams put the farm-bike on board (6)

7 It’s on to victimise and it’s up to rally (4)

8 A way out for Serge turning up before the start of spring (6)

12 The old priest could speak after morning to make it better (10)

14 The listener in the finale is appealing (9)

16 Usually the friend is under average (8)

17 The poignancy of love in little ways (6)

18 Boomers without love could become melancholy (6)

21 The 17th Century writer could have a sore foot by the sound of it (6)

22 Awkwardly dust the earring (4)

25 Dutch settler starts to buy out the cattle farmer at last (4)

WIN

A $50 gift card goes to the first correct entry opened for Barbara Brown’s Weekend Prize Crossword. Send it in an envelope with your name and address to Your Weekend Prize Crossword, Stuff, PO Box 6341, Wellesley St, Auckland 1141 or email answers to cryptic@stuff.co.nz. The competition closes at noon on Friday and the solution will be published next week. Winner of the $50 voucher for crossword 677 on September 11 is David Conroy from Christchurch. Congratulations, David.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions we will only be able to accept email entries until further notice. Prizes will be sent out once we are able to be back in the office and postal services resume as normal. Thanks for understanding.