Rookie Corner 501 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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Rookie Corner 501

by Prolixic  

A Puzzle by Dharma

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +


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.

A review by Prolixic follows:

Very little to fault in this crossword.  The commentometer reads as 1 / 28 or 3.6%.  On the basis that when a Rookie solver had continually reducing scores and gets below around 5%, it is time to move on, I think that Dharma should graduate to the NTSPP.

Across

8a  Liked hot taste, ultimately dull not cutting it (2,6)
IN FAVOUR: A two-letter word meaning hot or trendy followed by a seven-letter word meaning taste without (not cutting it) the final letter (ultimately) in dull.

9a  Up in the air over French city (2,3)
ON ICE: The abbreviation for over followed by a four-letter name of a French city on the Riviera.

10a  Grey day except towards the west (4)
DRAB: The abbreviation for day followed by a reversal (towards the west) of a three-letter word meaning except.

11a  Circumstances support golf, 18 holes to follow (10)
BACKGROUND: A four-letter word meaning support followed by the letter represented by golf in the NATO phonetic alphabet and a five-letter word describing a game of golf (18 holes).

12a  Panel attached to home causing damage (6)
INJURY: A four-letter word for a panel in a court case after (attached to) a two-letter word meaning home.

14a  Despised pilot seen in action (8)
DETESTED: A four-letter word for a pilot inside a four-letter word for action.

15a  Pop singer, endlessly disgusting … Plant? (7)
CHERVIL: The four-letter name of an American pop-singer followed by a four-letter word meaning disgusting without the final letter (endlessly).

17a  Time to crack open Sainsbury’s premier variety rum (7)
STRANGE: The abbreviation for time inside (to crack open) the first letter (premier) of Sainsbury and a five-letter word meaning variety.

20a  They may manipulate crowd given money, missing nothing (8)
MASSEURS: A four-letter for a crowd followed by (given) a five-letter word for European currency without (missing) the letter representing nothing.

22a  Victorian woman? (6)
SHEILA: Cryptic definition of an Australian (Victorian) term for a woman.

23a  Rubbish accommodation becoming upsetting (10)
DISLODGING: A three-letter word meaning to rubbish or criticise followed by a seven-letter word for accommodation.

24a  Going up a size to begin with, rodents will be shock intruders! (4)
LICE: A four-letter word for rodents with the initial letter (to begin with) going from the abbreviation for medium to the abbreviation for large (going up a size).

25a  Turn away from state secret’s conclusion (5)
AVERT: A four-letter word meaning to state followed by the final letter (conclusion) of secret.

26a  Boost after Dharma initially sets out some kind of solution (8)
ISOTONIC: A five-letter meaning boost after the single letter representing the setter (Dharma) and the initial letters of sets out

Down

1d  Dig in November wearing cap from Europe and type of coat? (8)
ENTRENCH: The letter represented by November in the NATO phonetic alphabet inside (wearing) the abbreviation for Europe and a six-letter word for a type of coat.

2d  Slight bit of residue picked up by small child scratching bottom (4)
BARB: The initial letter (bit) of residue inside (picked up by) a four-letter word for a small child without the final letter (scratching bottom).

3d  Though his work may be neat, a tradesman to avoid? (6)
COWBOY: Double definition of a rancher and a dodgy workman.  Perhaps the first part is not quite accurate, the person works with neats and is neat itself.

4d  Peter out supporting opening of Portsmouth Herald (7)
PRECEDE: A six-letter word meaning peter out after (supporting) the first letter (opening) of Portsmouth.

5d  Model finally lost appeal, never mind (6,2)
FORGET IT: A five-letter word meaning model followed by the final letter of lost and a two-letter word for sexual appeal.

6d  Small transaction bringing in 100 notes (5,5)
MINOR SCALE: A five-letter word meaning small followed by a four-letter word for a retail transaction around (bringing in) the Roman numeral for 100.

7d  Pulse that is something often noticed on head? (6)
BEANIE: A four-letter word for a vegetable that is known as a pulse followed by the abbreviation for “that is”.

13d  Decided to undermine case for Union, this being open to question (10)
UNRESOLVED: An eight-letter word meaning decided underneath (to undermine) the outer letters (case) of union.  I agree that the first part of the wordplay is too closely related to the solution.

16d  One with time taking sister up and down to Bury (8)
INUNDATE: The letter representing one followed by a four-letter word for time includes (taking) a palindromic word (up and down) for a religious sister.

18d  Festival with disheartened cast in charge of the stars (8)
GALACTIC: A four-letter word for a festival followed by the outer letters (disheartened) of cast and the abbreviation for in charge.

19d  Hopin’ to get something for headache? (7)
ASPIRIN: An eight-letter word meaning hoping with the final letter dropped as indicated by “hopin’”.

21d  Woman I maltreated engaging brute (6)
ANIMAL: The answer is hidden (engaging) in the first three words of the clue.

22d  Indicate working and do this when not? (4,2)
SIGN ON: A four-letter word meaning indicate followed by a two-letter word meaning working.

24d  Fifty pence to purchase two rounds … we see a bender! (4)
LOOP: The Roman numeral for fifty and the abbreviation for pence include (to purchase) two round letters.

31 comments on “Rookie Corner 501”

  1. That had us working hard, particularly the top half, but we did finally get everything sorted.
    Lots of ticks but we’ll go for 22a for favourite.
    Thanks Dharma.

  2. Definitely a head scratcher with some e-help required to get across the finishing line.

    Smiles for 22a (it took a long time for the PDM on Victorian), 24a, 3d, and 7d.

    Thanks Dharma and thanks in advance to Prolixic.

  3. Very good. I too liked 3d and “Victorian woman?”. 13d was perhaps the weakest for me, being rather same-both-sidey. I look forward to your next.

  4. Another RC puzzle for Dharma! You and AgentB appear to be battling it out to win the title of the most prolific RC setter, and the good news is that you are both upping your game regularly.

    This one was certainly challenging but I really enjoyed it, and I thought it was a further improvement over your previous offering (which I described at the time as your best yet!)

    I entered “unrealised” initially for 13d which made me struggle a bit in the SW corner until I twigged the right answer. I do agree with Encota about this clue.

    I can’t quite decide if 8a works – does “L not cutting it” really mean omit the L?

    Also, and this is probably just a personal preference thing, I would have chosen “young” rather than “small” in 2d.

    Undoubtedly 22a was my favourite and I also had lots of other ticks for 9a, 14a, 17a, 25a, 5d, 6d & 16d.

    Very well done, SL, and many thanks for the fun. Please do keep them coming. Thanks too in advance to Prolixic.

    1. Hi RD.
      Thanks for your kind comment, much appreciated and I’m very pleased you enjoyed my puzzle.
      8a works for me (and my esteemed test solver!) as cryptically it tells you exactly what to do though it is a little different.
      I hadn’t really intended to submit another puzzle here anytime soon but I answered Mr K and various commenter’s “call to arms” when a couple of weeks ago the RC spot was empty.

  5. An enjoyable crossword – I did wonder whether Dharma had got his friendly local ‘expert’ to test solve it!. The crossword was friendlier on the right than the left but all finished before my cereal. My favourite clue was 22a

    Thanks to Dharma and in advance to Prolixic

    1. Another very accomplished and enjoyable puzzle Dharma! Yes, it was pretty tricky in parts, but fairly and imaginatively clued. There will always be quibbles, I guess, and if “not cutting it” doesn’t cut it, so be it (and I kind of agree with Fez). I just like that you are trying things that are different. But as others have said, one knows to expect an enjoyable challenge from a Dharma puzzle, so my only question is, what are you still doing in RC?!!!

  6. Dharma ‘does a Beam’ in avoiding anagrams – that’s fine by me. As RD says he is getting better and better – I enjoyed this a great deal. Many thanks to him.
    The clues I liked best were 8a, 22a, 3d and 5d.

  7. Really good Dharma, thanks. I also spotted the dearth of anagrams, which are normally my way into a puzzle. But I managed to solve this anyway, which is testament to the quality of the clueing. I agree with CS about the left being tougher than the right. I put that down, in part at least, to the rather unfriendly grid – lots of unchecked first letters on that side. Favourites included: 11a (a particular interest of mine!), 12a, 23a plus the excellent run of downs from 2d to 6d.

  8. Much appreciated that you answered the call to arms, Dharma, and with possibly your best puzzle to date. Top of the pile for me were 9&10a plus 4&5d with a broad smile for 19d.

    Many thanks, I thoroughly enjoyed the solve.

  9. Thanks Dharma, top stuff. Favourites include 9a, 10a, 12a, 15a, 17a, 22a, 2d and 5d. Agree 13d is a tad same-sidey; I’m also with RD re 8a – the L isn’t really originally “cutting” FLAVOUR (that would be e.g. FLAVLOUR), would prefer something like “… ultimately dull isn’t wanted”. But very minor quibbles in a super puzzle, thanks again!

  10. Welcome back Dharma/Stephen.

    As soon as I saw who this week’s RC setter was, I knew that I would be in for a very enjoyable solve and I was certainly not disappointed.

    I have plenty of ticks on my printed page, but my podium consists of 22a, 24a and 18d. I would probably agree with Encota and RD about 13d, and I wasn’t totally convinced about the first part of 3d, but these are my only real quibbles.

    Having numerous appearances in Rookie Corner without promotion can be frustrating, but I think it also helps a setter hone his or her skills before advancing (this comes from someone who had ten RC puzzles before his first NTSPP appearance!).

    Well done on another great crossword, Dharma/Stephen, and thank you for answering the call to submit another puzzle.

  11. A massive thanks to everyone who has taken the trouble to solve my puzzle and comment thus far, much appreciated and all points read and duly noted.
    Pleased everyone enjoyed it (it can be daunting being judged by one’s peers!) and I’m particularly happy and encouraged by the wide range of clues highlighted as favourites, always a positive sign.

  12. Thus far I am enjoying this very much Dharma.
    I still have eight clues to solve before I have a full grid. As I have managed thus far unaided I have carefully averted my eyes from the comments. I did however see that of the 2Kiwis when I printed off the puzzle. I have to agree that the top part of the crossword is rather more tricky than the lower half.
    Top of my podium are 14a, 17a, 24a, 26a, 6d, 7d and 19d. And, if my answer proves to be correct, 22a. There may be others to come…
    Thank you so much for the entertainment, Dharma. I fear there is some serious head-scratching for me before I have completed this.
    Much appreciation in advance to Prolixic. I look forward very much to your review.
    It will also be very interesting to see the comments.

    1. Hi Catnap
      Thanks for your comment, much appreciated. I’m very pleased you’re enjoying the challenge. Keep going, I’m sure perseverance will pay off in the end 😊

      1. Thanks very much Stephen L. You were right!
        I put the puzzle aside and did a bit of unrelated research. When I returned to it, the remaining eight clues revealed their secrets. I enjoyed them all, especially as I was able to solve them unaided.
        Delighted to say I now have a full grid. 3d is a very definite addition to my podium.
        Once again very big thanks for the excellent entertainment and challenge.

  13. Excellent Stephen. My only slight disappointment was that it lacked one of your usual political clues. I reckon promotion to the NTSPP can’t be far away. 22&24a would probably be my top two from a good number of ticks. Congrats on the reception this one has rightly received & thanks for submitting

    1. Wot, no political clues? I must be slipping!
      Thanks for your positive comment Huntsman, very much appreciated.

  14. Thanks, Dharma. It took us a while but we got there in the end and enjoyed the challenge. Favourites were 15a, 20a and 18d. We look forward to your next one . Thanks also to Prolixic.

  15. Many thanks for a most accomplished and enjoyable puzzle Stephen. My only thoughts were that “up in the air” doesn’t really equate to “on ice” (undecided cf. delayed) and that the grammar in 3d doesn’t work, but minor quibbles for a super puzzle. Thank you again, and also to Prolixic.

  18. Thanks very much to Prolixic for his usual comprehensive review and of course all the work he puts in on behalf of rookie setters. Thanks also to my (long-suffering) test solver, and everyone who has commented on my puzzles and given me encouragement and advice, all very much appreciated.

  19. Many thanks for the review, Prolixic, and congratulations to Stephen on his promotion – sadly, I’m told that it doesn’t come with a salary increase!

  20. Well done, Dharma. A worthy elevation. Last few puzzles have been great. No dearth of submissions in NSTPP, I can assure you. A rather longer wait to appear than in RC of late.

  21. A couple of days late to this but when I saw who had set it I thought I must have a crack at it. I’m glad I did! A great puzzle, very enjoyable and well worth all the positive comments that I have now read. Stephen/Dharma I’m sure you’ve taken great pleasure in seeing, what I reckon to be, about 80% of the clues getting a positive mention.

    I particularly liked 1d and and 17a for the original (to me at least) indicators that were used. Congratulations on the promotion. I look forward to seeing your next one in NTSPP.

    1. Many thanks Jeemz, I really appreciate your comment and pleased you found the time to do it and enjoy it.

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