A Puzzle by Tater
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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.
Welcome back to Tater. After a very good crossword at the beginning of the month, this one was also good but with, perhaps, a few more avoidable errors that could have been avoided with a little more checking before submission. The commentometer is therefore slightly higher at 3/28 or 10.7%
Across
1a Respectable scoreline, bad ground (12)
CONSIDERABLE: An anagram (ground) of SCORELINE BAD.
10a Alfresco party hosted by blooming soldiers! (7)
OUTDOOR: A two-letter word for a party inside (hosted by) a three-letter word for blooming (as flowers might be) and the abbreviation for Other Ranks (soldiers).
11a Soft and red – a German steak for example (7)
PROTEIN: The musical abbreviation for soft followed by the German words for red and A.
12a Warm to a good person (5)
TOAST: The TO A from the clue followed by the abbreviation for saint (good person).
13a Pearls perhaps from trainee fighter pilot following snog (8)
NECKLACE: The abbreviation for trainee and a three-letter word for a fighter pilot all after (following) a four-letter word meaning snog.
15a Banker irritates big businesses (10)
INDUSTRIES: The name of an Indian river (banker) followed by a five-letter word meaning irritates.
16a Off ones rocker, about rock (4)
STUN: A four-letter word meaning mad (off ones rocker) reversed (about). This should be off one’s rocker.
18a One born in April to leave narrow-minded church (4)
UNIT: A five-letter word for someone whose star sign is Aries (born in April) is removed from a nine-letter word for a church that stresses the unity of the godhead instead of the trinity. As a Taurean could also be born in April and the required person could have been born in March, perhaps a maybe after April would be better.
20a Mental rebuilding, after this month, is fitting (10)
INSTALMENT: An anagram (rebuilding) of MENTAL after a four-letter word used in correspondence to indicate this month.
22a Extraordinary tidiness demanded (8)
INSISTED: An anagram (extraordinary) of TIDINESS.
24a Being without attachments maybe (5)
TORSO: A cryptic definition of a body without arms and legs. I don’t think that this really works.Â
26a New England region to welcome capital university hub (7)
NUCLEUS: The abbreviations for New and England and a two-letter abbreviation for United States (region) include (to welcome) the way in which University College London (capital university) brands itself.
27a Daydreamer I caught touring country (7)
AMERICA: The answer is hidden in (touring) the first three words of the clue.
28a Persuade player to come on board – OK? (12)
SATISFACTORY: A seven-letter word meaning persuade includes (to come on board) a five-letter word for a thespian (player).
Down
2d Apparent stalemate overturned following possible Umpires decision (7)
OUTWARD: A four-letter word for a stalemate is reversed (overturned) following a three-letter word for a decision that a cricket umpire might make. Try to avoid repeating wordplay indicators. Following was used as a positional indicator in 13a. Umpires should be Umpire’s.
3d Detailed beach examination is most concise (8)
SHORTEST: A five-letter word for a beach with the last letter removed (detailed) followed by a four-letter word for an examination.
4d Gloomy day on lifeboat (4)
DARK: The abbreviation for day on a three-letter word for a rescue vessel (lifeboat).
5d Stands for scripture exhibits (10)
REPRESENTS: The abbreviation for religious education (scripture) followed by an eight-letter meaning exhibits.
6d Scotch from inferior grade Irish water it’s rumoured (5)
BLOCK: A grade less than grade A followed by a homophone (it’s rumoured) of lough (Irish water).
7d Cultured one never forgets to abandon pub for good (7)
ELEGANT: The animal that reputedly never forgets with the abbreviation for pub replace by the abbreviation for good.
8d Obstruction in broadcast reports (13)
CONTRIBUTIONS: An anagram (broadcast) of OBSTRUCTION IN.
9d Lock up a deranged Latino general (13)
INTERNATIONAL: A six-letter word meaning lock up or imprison followed by the A from the clue and an anagram (deranged) of LATINO.
14d Crowds surrounding trendy third rate Royals? (10)
PRINCESSES: A seven-letter word meaning crowds around (surrounding) a two-letter word meaning trendy and the letter meaning third-rate.
17d Fixed price by the end of August can be coppers (8)
FLATFEET: A phrase 4,3 indicating a fixed price followed by the last letter (end) of August.
19d Contemptible types in schools (7)
INSECTS: The IN from the clue followed by a five-letter word for schools.
21d Nobleman acquires fine-art occasionally for Prior (7)
EARLIER: A four-letter for a nobleman followed by the even-letters (occasionally) of fine-art. I think that acquires is better suited to a containment clue not a charade clue.
23d  Become aware of baseless view over time (5)
SCENT: a five-letter word for a view without the last letter (baseless) over the abbreviation for time.
25d Red flower sometimes seen on Sicily (4)
LAVA: Cryptic definition of the outflow from a volcano such as Mount Etna in Sicily.
We had to work quite hard but eventually got everything sorted. Top marks go to the two that held out longest, 11a and 9d.
Enjoyed the solve.
Thanks Tater.
Like the 2Kiwis I had to work quite hard to complete but it was still an enjoyable conclusion to my weekend of cruciverbalism.
Smiles for 11a, 13a, 28a, 6d, 17d, and 21d.
Thanks Tater and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
I found parts of this enjoyable puzzle very tough but I did enjoy the solve.
I think that 18a requires a “perhaps” as not every Arian was born in April, and I wasn’t convinced by 24a. Those very minor points aside, this was a most accomplished puzzle.
Many thanks, Tater, and thanks in advance to Prolixic.
I was just working out what to say when Rabbit Dave said it all for me. My favourite clue was 11a
Thanks to Tater and, in advance, to Prolixic
Thanks to Tater for this very accomplished and enjoyable challenge.
I particularly liked 11a, 18a and 17d with my favourite being 26a.
More like this please.
Thank you all for those fine comments.
Sorry for the difficulty, it wasn’t really what I was aiming for.
One of the best, and most enjoyable, Rookie Corner puzzles in a long time. So many great clues but, probably, 11A is my COTD. Thanks Tater; all the work, and time, that went into devising this was very worthwhile and much appreciated here.
Thanks deebee, that’s put a big smile on my face.
Welcome back, Tater.
I was disappointed to see apostrophes missing from both the clues for 16a and 2d, so I can’t be quite as effusive in my praise for the puzzle as others seem to have given. It was certainly enjoyable, but “acquires” in 21d is usually a containment indicator, not a link-word between successive elements of wordplay, and I was another unconvinced about 24a. My favourite clue was 10a.
Many thanks, Tater.
Thank you all and especially Prolixic for your comments and guidance.
Must try harder!
A great puzzle, thank you Tater. It took us a while but we got there in the end. Favourites are 11a, 13a, 3d and 17d. Definitely need more, please. Thanks also to Prolixic.