ST 3065

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3065

A full review by gnomethang

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This puzzle was published on 19^th July 2020

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **

Morning All! – This didn’t take too long to solve but I did find it a bit samey in the constructions. particularly when reviewing.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

9a           Power drops from the sky, it’s said? (5)
REIGN – A homophone (it’s said) of RAIN/drops from the sky.

10a        I appreciate that natural gambolling in hairy creature (9)
TARANTULA – TA for ‘I appreciate that’/thanks and a gambolling anagram of NATURAL.

11a        Film partners when playing tough (7)
WETERN – The Bridge paying partners of W(est) and E(ast) followed by STERN for tough/strict.

12a        Cook, good poser! (7)
GRIDDLE – G for Good and a RIDDLE or poser.

13a        Very dear soak (5)
STEEP – Two definitions – pricey and to stipple/soak/infuse.

14a        Musical composition that may go to one’s head? (9)
HAIRPIECE – The 70’s musical HAIR and a PIECE or composition.

16a        Contrary to what is expected, unlikely to drink whisky? (7,3,5)
AGAINST THE GRAIN – The second (cryptic) definition refers to someone who shuns whisky (made from grain),

19a        Pleased day is left to escape competitors (9)
SATISFIED – SAT(urday) and IS from the clue and finally L for Left is gone/escaping from a FIE(l)D of competitors.

21a        Capital I invested in large containers (5)
TUNIS – I inside/invested in TUNS or large containers/vats.

23a        Bacon: artist she reveals on the periphery? (7)
RASHERS – RA for Royal Academician/artist then SHE from the clue and the peripheral letters n R(eveal)S.

25a        Spinning of spider catching insect finally — like a bumblebee? (7)
STRIPED – An anagram (spinning) of SPIDER containing/catching the final letter in (insec)T.

27a        Strong binding (9)
STRAPPING – Two definitions – A strapping son and a bandage/binding.

28a        Figure removing coat for competition (5)
EVENT – Remove the outer letters (coat) of the number/figure sEVENTy.

Down

1d           Pull charge up (4)
DRAW – A reversal (up) of a WARD or small child charged into care.

2d           Wipe new suits with end of sleeve (6)
TISSUE – A new anagram of SUITS with the end of (sleev)E.

3d           Nuns depart after duffing up boxers, say? (10)
UNDERPANTS – An anagram (after duffing up) of NUNS DEPART.

4d           Initially, smelly fish stink (6)
STENCH – The initial in S(melly) and then TENCH for fish.

5d           Smug: as a swine entertaining king (8)
PRIGGISH – PIGGISH (as a swine) entertaining (taking in) R for Rex/king.

6d           Challenger in sportswoman, tiring (4)
ANTI – A hidden word IN sportswom AN TI ring.

7d           Potential flower perhaps ideal for developing bloom (8)
BUDDLEIA – A BUD or potential flower then an anagram (perhaps) of IDEAL.

8d           French cakes prepared, then mixed in eels! (10)
MADELEINES – MADE for prepared then a mixed anagram of IN EELS.

13d        Pressure beneath same cracked sewer? (10)
SEAMSTRESS – STRESS for pressure underneath a cracked anagram of SAME.

15d        Master under servant in great book (4-6)
PAGE-TURNER – TURNER the Master artist under a PAGE or servant.

17d        Skill shown, I start to weave line (8)
ARTISTRY – An anagram (to weave) of I START and then the TRY line in rugby.

18d        50/50 chance: fix sudden descent of aeroplane (8)
TAILSPIN – TAILS is a 50/50 chance on the toss of a coin. Add PIN for fix.

20d        Party learned how much medicine to prescribe (6)
DOSAGE – A charade of DO/party and SAGE/learned/wise.

22d        Baby crab? (6)
NIPPER – A simple double definition.

24d        Clock where time speeds up gradually, all concluding (4)
ESPY – The last letters (all concluding) from timE speedS uP gradually.

26d        Take out dried fruit (4)
DATE – Another simple double def. to finish.