The Sunday Crossword No 2970, Sunday 19 Nov 2017

ACROSS
1   See vine tangled with herb (8) ENVISAGE {VINE}*{SAGE}
5   Abandon thread (6) STRAND [DD]
9   Covered past life initially with relief (8) OVERLAID {OVER}{Life}{AID}
10 Is painful technique used in texting? (6) SMARTS {SM{ART}S}
12 Environmentalist's signal to proceed (5) GREEN [DD]
14 Custom immune to criticism from airman blushing aboard boat (6,3) SACRED COW {AC}{RED} in {SCOW}
15 Propose measure before social gathering for indoor game (5,8) TABLE FOOTBALL {TABLE} {FOOT}{BALL}

17 Certainly sense hot excitement of bout, duo receiving cheers (7,1,5) WITHOUT A DOUBT {WIT}{H}{OU{T A} DOUBT*}
21 Resistance in territory by soldier, cold and calculated (9) STRATEGIC {ST{R}ATE}{GI}{C}
22 Greek character absorbed by argument he tackled (5) THETA [T]
23 License book in revolutionary electronic way (6) ENABLE {E}{L{B}ANE} <=
24 Unlucky one, round in valley, in retreat (3-5) ILL-FATED {1}{LL-{FAT}ED<=}
26 Thirsty to grab attention? Not interesting (6) DREARY {DR{EAR}Y}
27 Linguistic unit in translation of sly label (8) SYLLABLE*

DOWN
1   Stretch, with energy left, operating barrier (8) ELONGATE {E}{L}{ON}{GATE}
2   Struggle with unfinished scene (3) VIE VIEw
3   Quiet because occupied by French article (7) SILENCE {SI{LE}NCE}
4   Artist captures nobody's heart? Harsh (12) GAINSBOROUGH {GAINS}{noBOdy}{ROUGH}
6   Paint moderate area (7) TEMPERA {TEMPER}{A}

7   Curtail urge to reform land management (11) AGRICULTURE*
8   Deny any connection with inspector, planted (6) DISOWN {DI}{SOWN}
11 English clubs still followed by supporter very happily (12) ECSTATICALLY {E}{C}{STATIC}{ALLY}
13 Inclination, changing gear, to cut extra hard work (5,6) ELBOW GREASE {BOW}{GEAR*} in {ELSE}
16 Trio, not half oppressed by burden, cross (8) STRADDLE {S{TRio}ADDLE}
18 Gossip time after time going into story? Right (7) TATTLER {TA}{T}{T}LE}{R}
19 Responsible university scientist finally separating new fluid (7) DUTIFUL {U}{s...sT} in {FLUID}*
20 Move up when around goal (6) ASCEND {AS}{C}{END}
25 Clumsy boat yet to capsize (3) TUB <=

GRID