No 9640, Friday, 18 Sep 09, Neyartha

ACROSS
1 - Does this dating tip deliver the upper hand in a sporting contest? (4,4,2,3) - PLAY HARD TO GET [CD]
9 - Memorable mail from Cuba? (3-6) - {RED} {LETTER}
10 - Water, say, from animal skin that is not hard (5) - {OX}{(-h)IDE}
11 - Alwarpet Cricket Club’s first patron is the plaintiff (7) - {A}{C}{C}{USER}
13 - Usual limits observed in article on come-back star’s ring (7) - {AN}{N{UL}US<-} )
14 - Alien leaves frying pan in craft (5) - SKILL(-et)
15 - Tasty roll twisted? That is unbelievable (4,5) - TALL STORY*
17 - Engineer misusing point on the need to make a difference (5,4) - MINUS SIG*{N}
18 - Slips some rate as essential (5) - EASES [T]
20 - Indian girl besieged by tax in Universal’s island (7) - {V{ANU}AT}{U}
22 - Revolutionary upset when hemmed in by Orientals in the Oval (7) - E{LLIPS<-}E
23 - Clueless expert at home takes off the notice (5) - {IN}{(-ad)EPT}
24 - Abstainer entertaining eccentric manager is an ill-natured woman (9) - T{ERMAGAN}T
26 - Vicar’s faucet broken down by Oriental to show a detergent property (7-6) - SURFACE ACTIV*{E}
DOWN
1 - Infirm sapper possessed heroin, possibly (7) - PER{H}APS*
2 - Strong craving for surrender to a master (9) - ADDICTION [DD?]
3 - Audible exclamation of surprise from a plant manager? (3) - HOE(~oh)
4 - Armature that may revolve both ways (5) - ROTOR
5 - Waterproof canvas on the fancy train protects the Apostle (9) - TAR{PAUL}IN
6 - Surge of action to fashion doll’s new rug (6,5) - GROUND SWELL*
7 - Taiwan and Ireland join the revolution (5) - {TW}{IRL}
8 - Dairy cow from a Channel island (6) - JERSEY [DD]
12 - Eager beaver (4-7) - SELF-STARTER [E]
15 - IT quarter in trouble over pagan symbol (9) - TRIQUETRA*
16 - Old model sent up with a crone to the island’s gorges (9) - {O}{ESOP<-}{HAG}{I}
17 - Make oneself at home with the Pole following the movie production (4,2) - MOVE I*{N}
19 - Journalist deserts doctor respected by court staff (7) - SCEPTRE(-ed)*
21 - Wants Newton to get rid of wife’s unwanted plants (5) - (-w+n)NEEDS Same dichotomy as in yesterdays TUBA
22 - Lake Erie’s contents are chilling (5) - EERIE [T]
25 - Bow found in an old animal shelter, reportedly (3) - ARC(~ark)


GRID