A Puzzle by Munkleton
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. We do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.
Munkleton returns to amuse and bemuse with this week’s Rookie crossword. I think that this crossword was more accessible that the previous two that they have provided, the surface readings are improving and there are fewer repetitions of wordplay ideas. However, beneath the surface of the clues there were some reefs where the cryptic grammar did not quite work so the commentometer still on the relatively high side of 5/30 or 16.7%
Across
1a Result of push to reform (6)
UPSHOT: An anagram (reform) of PUSH TO
5a Monk cycling in urban area causes serious accident (8)
CALAMITY: A four-letter word for a Tibetan monk with the letters cycled in a four-letter word for an urban area.
9a Prudent or heartless to axe students for bladder problem? (8)
CAUTIOUS: A seven-letter word meaning heartless with the two Ls (students) replaced by (to axe … for) the abbreviation for urinary tract infection (bladder problem).
10a Ape adopts a name in shelter (6)
CANOPY: A four-letter word meaning ape includes (adopts) the A from the clue and the abbreviation for name.
11a Old queen almost taken in by scam produces large gun (6)
CANNON: The four-letter name of a former queen of England without the final letter (almost) inside (taken in by) a three-letter word for a scam.
12a Sailor stuck on canal needs men for muscle (8)
ABDUCTOR: The abbreviation for able seaman (sailor) followed by (stuck on) a four-letter word for a canal and the abbreviation for other ranks (men).
14a Barking, or where it may drive you (5,3,4)
ROUND THE BEND: Double definition.
18a Atrocious hidden war not totally lost (4,3,5)
DOWN THE DRAIN: An anagram (atrocious) of HIDDEN WAR NOT.
22a Watches ball boy initiate tennis match with small following (8)
OBSERVES: The letter representing a ball followed by the abbreviation for boy, a five-letter word meaning initiate a tennis match and the abbreviation for small. Whilst b appears in the abbreviation OB for old boy, it is not an abbreviation in its own right in the main dictionaries, so cannot be used on its own. Watches old boy initiate… would resolve this.
25a Mind Spooner’s little cub? (6)
BEWARE: A Spoonerism of wee (little) bear (cub).
26a Old seafarer and family enter docked city in Spain (6)
VIKING: A three-letter word for family inside (enter) the four-letter name of a Spanish city with the final letter removed (docked). The cryptic grammar does quite work as the clue resolves to A enter B. Changing enter to entering would resolve this.
27a One engaged in noisy dispute with bishop defending point of view (8)
WRANGLER: The abbreviation for with followed by the two-letter abbreviation for a bishop around (defending) a five-letter word for a point of view.
28a Judges free volatile withdrawn witness (8)
REFEREES: An anagram (volatile) of FREE followed by a reversal (withdrawn) of a four-letter word for a witness.
29a Hazard as gander runs wild (6)
DANGER: An anagram (runs wild) of GANDER.
Down
2d Courtyards are quiet, vacant areas in which to relax briefly (6)
PLAZAS: The musical abbreviation for quiet and the outer letters (vacant) of areas include (in which) a four-letter word meaning to relax with the final letter removed (briefly). The cryptic grammar does not work here as the clue resolves to definition ARE wordplay. Changing are to maybe would resolve this. Also, watch the repeated use of in as a container indicator. We have had A in B in 5a, A taken in by B in 11a and A in which B in this clue
3d Slapdash crime? (3,3,3)
HIT AND RUN: Split slapdash into slap dash and find synonyms for both words. Not all editors would accept an unindicated requirement to split the word in two.
4d Second half of marathon crosses river and outback to get to spiky shrub (9)
THORNBUSH: The final four letters (second half) of marathon around (crosses) the abbreviation for river followed by a four-letter word for the outback. I don’t think that crosses works as a containment indicator in a down clue.
5d Something to chew on reflecting about favourite sweet (7)
CUSTARD: A three-letter word for something to chew on whilst ruminating around (about) a four-letter word meaning favourite.
6d It’s clear to see first signs of Lancaster University cuts inhibiting development (5)
LUCID: The initial letters (first signs) of the final five words of the clue.
7d GAP abandons broadcast campaign – wild! (5)
MANIC: An anagram (broadcast) of CAMPAIGN without the letters in GAP. As the letters to be removed are not in order in campaign, a secondary anagram indicator should be provided. Perhaps In liquidation, GAP abandons… would resolved this.
8d Storms see businessmen exchanging cold for pub (9) (8)
TYPHOONS: A seven-letter word for businessmen with the abbreviation for cold replaced by (exchanging … for) the abbreviation for pub. Watch how the enumeration is given as the clue shows (9) (8).
13d Consider firing principal for drug taking (3)
USE: A four-letter word meaning consider with the first letter removed (firing principal). I think that the definition “drug taking” requires a solution ending in ING.
15d Premier timber to make piece of furniture (9)
HEADBOARD: A four-letter word meaning head followed by a five-letter word for a piece of timber.
16d Musicians continuously sway in popular movement (9)
BANDWAGON: A four-letter word for a group of musicians followed by a phrase (3, 2) meaning continuously sway.
17d Gang retreats as sting surrounds southern area of chaos (4,4)
BOMB SITE: A reversal (retreats) a three-letter word for a gang followed by a four-letter word for sting around (surrounds) the abbreviation for southern. I don’t think that the “as” works in the clue as a charade indicator.
19d Sailor and singer head over heels (3)
TAR: A reversal (head over heels) of a three-letter word for a betrayer (singer).
20d Rejects reportedly stitched up, surrounded by senior investigators (7)
DISOWNS: A homophone (reportedly) of sewn (stitched up) surrounded by a pluralized abbreviation for senior police investigators.
21d Cry for girl abruptly abandoned the night before (6)
GRIEVE: The girl from the clue with the final letter removed (abruptly) followed by a three-letter word for the night before.
23d Send off half of team restraining other side (5)
EXILE: Half of the letters in the spelling of the number of players in a football team around (restraining) the Roman numerals for the number of players in the opposing team (other side). Try to avoid repeating wordplay indicator. You used half to indicate the removal of half the letters in 4d.
24d Vacant villa, extremely suspect, leaves guest unsure (5)
VAGUE: The outer letters (vacant) of villa followed by the guest from the clue after removing (leaves) the outer letters (extremely) of suspect.
Thanks Munkleton for a very enjoyable third Rookie which provided an almost perfect ending to my weekend of cruciverbalism.
Smiles for 10a, 25a, 26a, 7d, and 8d.
Thanks again and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
This was much more accessible than your previous offering, Munkleton, and a real pleasure to solve.
You need a second anagram indicator in 7d as the letters to be removed from the anagram fodder appear in a different order. One other very minor point is that I think “cud” in 5d would be better defined by adding “while” before “reflecting”.
My top picks were 25a, 26a, 27a, 3d, 13d & 16d.
Very well done and thank you. I think a very low commentometer score beckons. Thanks too to Prolixic.
A really enjoyable puzzle – many thanks to Munkleton.
Top clues for me were 25a, 27a, 3d and 16d.
A very enjoyable RC puzzle which I found to be a good challenge. I’m sure others will spot a few minor technical flaws but I suspect that the commentometer won’t be overheating with this one.
I did have another annoying brain-freeze with 8d. Because it would fit with the 3 checkers I had at the time and “pub” is in the clue, I just couldn’t get TAPROOMS out of my head for a fair while.
Personally, I prefer succinct definitions (and clues generally) and I’m not keen on unnecessarily long phrasal ones. In 27a, the first five words could have been replaced with something like “Quarreller” – reducing the clue from eleven words to seven.
I ticked quite a few clues and I particilarly liked 3d and 26a. If a DT back-pager: 3*/4*.
Very enjoyable and, as others have said, this shouldn’t unduly disturb the commentometer. My only query relates to 28a where there seems to be an ‘R’ unaccounted for in the fodder.
Many thanks, Munkleton, more like this would be most appreciated.
Jane, the last four letters of 28a are the reversal of a noun (not a verb) meaning a witness.
Thanks, RD. I had pondered that idea but thought it would be somewhat strained so left it alone!
All good fun – thanks Munkleton.
Welcome back, Munkleton.
This puzzle was so much better than your previous submission in so many ways that I am a little taken aback. The surfaces, clue construction and cryptic grammar were all exceptionally good this time, but the fact that the puzzle was solvable and much less tough was the most pleasing aspect for me. Many congratulations, indeed.
As RD says, you do need a second anagram indicator in 7d and “boy” for B in 22a is not in Chambers, I believe. “Watches old boy…” would have overcome this. My podium choices would be 5a, 25a and 23d.
Excellent stuff! Many thanks, Munkleton.
Thank you so much for the encouraging words everyone and the constructive notes. I am pleased that my skills seem to be improving, in no small way down to your gratefully received input. I will wait for the comments from Prolixic (and many thanks to you in advance!) and continue to take your feedback on board.
23d (once I eventually twigged the parse) was my fav but there were ticks aplenty. I’d have been more than happy to get this puzzle as a DT backpager & might even trump Jose’s enjoyment rating with an extra half *
Thanks & very well done.
Many thanks for the review, Prolixic. I was initially a bit surprised by the score on the commentometer but, having now read through your remarks, I can see the validity of all the points you raised. Hope this doesn’t deter Munkleton as the level of enjoyment was quite high.