No 2772, Sunday 05 Jan 2014

ACROSS
1 Stronghold, one sacked in former kingdom (6) CASTLE CASTiLE
4 Sit down, weak, and tape broadcast (4,1,3) TAKE A PEW*
9 Husband presented with new Omega out of respect (6) HOMAGE {H}{OMEGA*}
10 Mean to pen article on river fish (8) STINGRAY {STING{R}{A}Y}
12 Sleep-inducing if caught by tailless scorpion abroad (9) SOPORIFIC {SOPOR{IF}ICn*}
13 Colour always sported by chanteuse - Piaf? (5) SEPIA [T]
14 Medal winner, one on the other side (8,5) VICTORIA CROSS {VICTOR}{1}{A CROSS}

2 Lt (Later Lt Gen) PS Bhagat, PVSM, VC (A Bombay Sapper)

18 Blue equatorial waters here (2,3,8) IN THE DOLDRUMS [DD]
20 Knock over raised object (5) UPEND {UP}{END}
22 Poverty - end is seen after a struggle (9) NEEDINESS*
24 Aunt Sally, for example, a legitimate target for ridicule? (4,4) FAIR GAME [DD]
25 Pollute narrow pass (6) DEFILE [DD]
26 Extracting pounds from sport (8) WRESTING WRESTlING
27 Climb a trail (6) ASCENT {A}{SCENT}

DOWN
1 Tending to stick together - unnaturally, he voices (8) COHESIVE*
2 What a judge may do with number appearing for trial (3,2) SUM UP {SUM} {UP}
3 Aggressive young drunk shot a lot with Luger (5,4) LAGER LOUT {A+LOT+LUGER}*
5 Cynical notes about highs (12) ANTICYCLONES*
6 Game failing to start in county town (5) ENNIS tENNIS
7 Father in French capital wants us raised together (4,5) PARI PASSU {PARI {PA}S}{SU<=}
8 Approach place to get buttonhole (6) WAYLAY {WAY}{LAY}
11 Commend a fine novel turned into a film (2,4,3,3) OF MICE AND MEN*
15 Greek character sheltered outside place with a monkey puzzle (5,4) CHILE PINE {CHI}{LE {PIN}E}

16 Sundials? They've been around for years! (3-6) OLD-TIMERS [DD]
17 Easiest (I suspect) in my opinion (2,1,3,2) AS I SEE IT*
19 Ridiculous talk over a wife makes one laugh loudly (6) GUFFAW {GUFF}{A}{W}
21 Poke one with end of first finger, perhaps (5) DIGIT {DIG}{1}{T}
23 Pick of Renaissance literature (5) ELITE [T]