THC-crossword thread-6; 4 ans PP till 4 pm IST

[pavalamani pragasam]

Across
1 Face struggle to arrest slump (6)VISAGE
4 Snake and cheat, swaggering (8) BOASTING
9 Bird towards north sheltered by dry covering (9) STONECHAT
11 Some Essex celebrities are brilliant (5)EXCEL
12 Ceremony fitting in speech (4)RITE
13 Mean and horrible under it all (3-7) ILL-NATURED
15 Cabbage newly seen beside field covered with herbs (7,6) CHINESE LEAVES
18 Fresh crop that rises very high (13) STRATOSPHERIC
20 Thick-skinned creature, old crocodile initially in river, emerged without energy (10) RHINOCEROS
22 Insect returning in rush to mate (4)MOTH
24 Deep voice about right for memorial (5)BRASS
25 Given evidence bound to include established supposition (9)TESTIFIED
26 Remove spar in area for maintenance of craft (8)DOCKYARD
27 Song sung by sailors in hut (6)SHANTY


Down
1 Room in church really enshrining saint (6)VESTRY
2 Son left mark of damage in high-powered vehicle (6,3) SPORTS CAR
3 Odd parts of garden we cultivated (4)GREW
5 Anxious one outside shelter on height surrounded by crows (2,11) ON TENTERHOOKS
6 Beloved wife filling churn with skill (10) SWEETHEART
7 Sustain elected scoundrel (5)INCUR
8 Travel on day after day in desire for rare commodity (4,4)GOLD DUST
10 Male elk settler disturbed runs in wild haste (6-7) HELTER-SKELTER
14 Against corruption of usury, toil honestly (10)VIRTUOUSLY
16 Clubs entertained by broadcast on trivia of a bygone age (9)VICTORIAN
17 Put down in the role of copy editor (8)ASCRIBED
19 Careless and casual in fling (6)SHODDY
21 One story, not good, about Newton? (5)ISAAC
23 Substance hot after excavation (4)PITH

Good!