Well, we know Rufus has his own style, but with (by my reckoning) 8 cryptic and 8 double definitions I think we can justifiably complain about a lack of clue variety in this puzzle. Some of the CDs seem not very cryptic to me, too. Sorry to be negative – no doubt others will have enjoyed it.
| Across | ||||||||
| 9. | CLERGYMEN | They’re paid for services rendered (9) Cryptic definition |
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| 10. | INAPT | Shown to be unfit during a gym session (5) IN A PT (PT being short for “PT lesson”) |
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| 11. | INNINGS | Games period (7) Cryptic definition |
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| 12. | PRIVATE | Undisclosed military rank (7) Double definition |
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| 13. | ENEMY | Three points go to my opponent (5) E + N + E + MY |
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| 14. | GARDENERS | Good ones can always grow better (9) Cryptic definition – a good gardener can grow plants better than other can |
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| 16. | THREE-LEGGED RACE | Sporting event one’s bound to compete in (5-6,4) Cryptic definition – in a three-legged the runners’ adjacent legs are tied (=bound) tobether |
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| 19. | LAST MAN IN | Cricket finalist? (4,3,2) Cryptic definition |
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| 21. | PILOT | Guide back to border (5) Reverse of TO LIP |
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| 22. | MEMENTO | It reminds chaps to give me priority (7) ME + MEN + TO |
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| 23. | HANDOUT | Gift for the poor — a welcome gesture (7) Double definition – to put your hand out is a welcoming gesture |
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| 24. | SALSA | A student on board having a dance (5) A L in SS + A |
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| 25. | NON-RUNNER | Haricot bean, for example, not a starter (3-6) Double definition – a haricot bean is not a runner bean, and a non-runner doesn’t start a (horse) race |
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| Down | ||||||||
| 1. | ACCIDENTAL | Fortuitous bit of scoring? (10) Double definition – in music an accidental is a flat or sharp sign (or similar) that indicates that a note isn’t to played as in the key signature. Nice to see the “correct” use of “fortuitous” in the other definition as “by chance” rather than the increasingly-common “fortunately”. |
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| 2. | REINDEER | Noel’s tower of strength (8) Cryptic definition – reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh at Christmas (Noel) |
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| 3. | AGENCY | It won’t play a principal part (6) Cryptic definition – in legal terminology an Agent is not a Principal |
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| 4. | AMIS | Novelist makes friends across the Channel (4) Double definition – AMIS is French for “friends”. For the novelist, take your pick of Kingsley or Martin. |
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| 5. | SNAPDRAGON | Photograph monster that’s seen in the garden (10) SNAP (photograph) + DRAGON |
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| 6. | DIVIDEND | Benefit from investment is cut about a quarter (8) N in DIVIDED |
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| 7. | PALACE | Site includes a splendid residence (6) A in PLACE |
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| 8. | STYE | Something troubling your eye, initially (4) Initial letters &lit |
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| 14. | GREENHORNS | Young and inexperienced musicians? (10) Cryptic definition |
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| 15. | SPECTATORS | They watch sport etc as recreation (10) (SPORT ETC AS)*, with an &littish surface |
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| 17. | EMMENTAL | Set me up with intellectual? Hard cheese! (8) Reverse of ME + MENTAL |
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| 18. | ALL FOUND | Nothing lost, having everything provided (3,5) Double definition |
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| 20. | SIMPLE | Naive politician caught in a web of lies (6) MP in LIES* |
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| 21. | PENT UP | Enclosure sheep is held in (4,2) PEN (enclosure) + TUP (dialect word for a ram). PENT is actually a variant of “penned” |
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| 22. | MUSE | Just think, she may inspire you (4) Double definition |
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| 23. | HIND | Animal quarters? (4) Double definition – think of “hind quarters” |
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