ÌACROSS&DOWNZH qƒÚ"°1.2ææÿææÿææÿMATTEROFOPINIONA.O.A.U.B.N.R.OSATIRICAL.SCENTT.H.L.H.I.U...IICEBOX.STILETTOF.L.B.S.E.A.O.NFREEENTERPRISE.S.T...R.A...S.S.STABSINTHEBACKC.E.E.K.E.M.N.IHARASSED.APODALE...T.S.E.I.T.LREALM.OPPORTUNEU.S.A.U.E.I.R.SBEHINDTHESCENES----------------.-.-.-.-.-.-.----------.------.-.-.-.-.-...-------.---------.-.-.-.-.-.-.---------------.-.-...-.-...-.-.---------------.-.-.-.-.-.-.---------.-------...-.-.-.-.-.------.----------.-.-.-.-.-.-.----------------Team Cryptics Round 4 Puzzle #7Craig Kasper, Gail Koontz, John Bryan, Will Johnston© 2000Servant holds teapot for boiling something questionable? (6,2,7)Mom doesn't tip intimidating guards (8)Carelessly let teeth rot completely (2,3,6)Nobleman, with honour from the Queen, in stud hangout? (7)Heading off feeling that hurts (4)Leaderless mob learned to destroy (10)Clannish discourtesy cut short a Radical (7)Anger that is constraining response (3)Idea comes from note found in midday (6)Sarcastic critic, alas drunk, missing bit of comedy (9)Sounded thrilled with bouquet (5)Cooler heads of independent countries eschew bursts of xenophobia (6)"Saint" I rented out to is kind of a heel (8)Drunkard turns up near beach, reversing new habit, to sleep fitfully (4,3,4)Bravely goes forth and fails (7,3)Upset peers interfere with laissez-faire policy (4,10)Heading east, deal in snow equipment with no proficiency (8)Liqueur bottled initially in large quantity sells down the river (5,2,3,4)Batsmen trading one who may be a winner? (4,3)Clapton hugs member of Parliament and me, a quack (7)Small bear cuddles her cute baby (6)Desmond and Sarah come back exhausted (8)GI's address to boy from the east is without foundation? (6)Sword owned by George Peele (4)Reprimand about loss of kingdom (5)Residue has scattered (3)Timely introduction of purifier into terribly poor air (9)Rowdy teens hid benches secretly (6,3,6)SOLUTION Across 1. M(ATTER OF OP)INION ('teapot for' anag.) 9. SATIRICAL (cRITIC ALAS anag.) 10. SCENT ('sent' homophone) 11. ICEBOX (acrostic) 12. ST+I+LET+TO 15. FREE ENTERPRISE (anagram) 17. ST(ABS IN THE+B)ACK 21. HARAS+SED ('Des'+'Sarah' rev.) 22. APO+DAL ('lad' rev.) 24. REA(L)M 26. OP(P)OR+TUNE (POOR anag.) 27. BEHIND THE SCENES (anag.) Down 1. MA+STIFFS 2. TO THE LETTER (anag.) 3. EARL+OBE 4. tOUCH 5. mOB+LITERATE 6. INSULt+A+R 7. I(R)E 8. NO(TI)ON 13. TOS(rev.)+SAND+(TUR+N rev.) 14. STRIKES OUT (2 def.) 16. SKI(LLES)S ('sell' rev.) 18. BEST MAN (anag.) 19. E(MP+I)RIC 20. C(HER)UB 23. EPEE (hidden) 25. ASH (anag.) http://www.bigmultimedia.com/tcccc/