| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | SOFTEN UP | |
| Work on superior hanging around time after time (6,2) | SUP outside OFTEN | |
| 5 | ABUSED | |
| A coach with education is mistreated (6) | A + BUS + ED | |
| 10 | BLUNTED | |
| Large sort of nut found in garden should be softened (7) | (L + anagram of NUT) inside BED | |
| 11 | RECANTS | |
| Withdraws sacrament distributed without a Mass (7) | Anagram of SACRAMENT minus A+M | |
| 12 | EPHEMERIS | |
| Astronomical publication restated premise about helium (9) | Anagram of PREMISE outside HE | |
| 13 | See 18-down | |
| 14 | GETS | |
| Notices American not mingling with guests (4) | GUESTS minus U and S | |
| 16 & 2dn |
STRAIGHT FLUSH | |
| This graft repaired grand player’s hand (8,5) | Anagram of (THIS GRAFT) + LUSH | |
| 19 | MISCHIEF | |
| Is tribal leader behind male’s injury? (8) | (IS + CHIEF) behind M | |
| 20 | See 26-across | |
| 23 | OCKER | |
| Australian musicians knowing no bounds (5) | r)OCKER(s | |
| 24 | AGREEMENT | |
| Million taken by teenager mucked up deal (9) | M inside anagram of TEENAGER | |
| 26 & 20ac |
CABBAGE TREE | |
| Vehicle hired by social worker brought around great transplanted palm (7,4) | CAB + (BEE outside anagram of GREAT) | |
| 27 | NAIL GUN | |
| Shooter used to get a fix? (4,3) | Cryptic Definition | |
| 28 | SIEGES | |
| Is taken aback, say, by focus of aggressive military blockades (6) | IS reversed + EG + aggr(ES)sive | |
| 29 | GERMANIC | |
| Grand translation of Crimean language used in the old days (8) | G + anagram of CRIMEAN | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | SUBMERGE | |
| Soiled beer mugs should be put under water (8) | Anagram of BEER MUGS | |
| 2 | See 16-across | |
| 3 | ENTOMB | |
| Note designed by British doctor to place in a grave (6) | Anagram of NOTE + MB | |
| 4 | UNDERESTIMATES | |
| Doesn’t realise the value of reconstructed set ruined by companions (14) | Anagram of (SET RUINED) + MATES | |
| 6 | BACK PAIN | |
| Outlaw carrying pack treated one for a medical problem (4,4) | BAN outside [(anagram of PACK) + I] | |
| 7 | SUNBATHER | |
| Loafer on the beach worked at her buns (9) | Anagram of AT HER BUNS | |
| 8 | DASHER | |
| Spirited person recalled blue with the girl (6) | SAD reversed + HER | |
| 9 | CROSS-REFERENCE | |
| Creditor and enforcers see broken link to related information (5-9) | CR + anagram of ENFORCERS SEE | |
| 15 | THINKABLE | |
| Hard material used to colour in chart is reasonable (9) | (H + INK) inside TABLE | |
| 17 | SCARFACE | |
| American gangster stole one (8) | SCARF + ACE | |
| 18 & 13ac |
TECTONIC PLATE | |
| Accept title on terribly large piece of land (8,5) | Anagram of ACCEPT TITLE ON | |
| 21 | FORCES | |
| Pushes warnings issued by golfers about clubs (6) | FORES outside C | |
| 22 | MEDIUM | |
| Die horribly in the arms of tight-lipped spiritualist (6) | Anagram of DIE inside MUM | |
| 25 | EGG ON | |
| Encourage horse advanced in years (3,2) | GG inside EON |
