I worked my way through this while listening to the Test Match in the wee small hours, so perhaps I didn’t quite give it the attention it deserved. But I found it a decent puzzle, a bit of a struggle to get into (again, maybe blame Stuart Broad and co.) but a straightforward solve once I was underway. Too much trimming and pruning of words (as at 15ac.) for my taste, but no real grumbles. Thanks, Sleuth.
ACROSS
1. COMBINE Bin [place for wine] within come [expression of encouragement]
5. MERMAID M(irage) within anagram of I dream
9. ROUTE Sounds like root [beginning]
10. IMPROMPTU Prom [concert] within imp [young troublemaker] + TU [trade union, group of workers]
11. FOOTLOOSE OO [glasses, (look like) spectacles] + s [son] within footle [trifle]
12. CZECH Sounds like cheque
13. LEEDS Lee [general Robert E.] + d(istrict)s
15. INGENUITY Genu(s) [class] within (Tr)inity [acdemic term]
18. SEMICOLON Anagram of cool within reversal of Nimes [French city]
19. LEMUR Emu [bird] within LR [left and right, both ways]
21. LODGE Double definition, alluding to the novelist David
23. AFFIDAVIT A + ff [fortissimo, very loud] + Ida [woman’s name] + I [one] within reversal of TV [set] [EDITED: thanks to Muffyword for correcting my spelling!]
25. EFFECTIVE E F [two (musical) notes] + anagram of chief vet minus h(elp)
26. AMBLE L [lake] within a + MBE [winner of award]
27. THROW-IN Row [argument] within thin [poor]
28. TANGENT Tan [what one might obtain on holiday] + gent [chap]
DOWN
1. CAREFUL Ref [referee, official] within caul(dron) [place that’s seething]
2. MAUSOLEUM Au [gold] + sole [only] within mum [silent]
3. IDEAL I + deal [summary of croupier’s role]
4. EDITORIAL Anagram of load i tried minus d(ay)
5. MAPLE Hidden in reversal of hELP A Minor
6. ROOT CANAL Anagram of lone croat
7. AMPLE Sample [specimen] minus s [sun]
8. DOUGHTY Hidden in discorD OUGHT You
14. SACRED COW Acre [measure] + DC [District of Columbia, governmental area] within sow [broadcast]
16. GENUFLECT Reversal of fun [enjoyment] + eg [for example, say] + lect [lecturer(?)]
17. IMMOVABLE Nimmo [actor Derek] minus N [northern] + b [bishop] within vale [farewell]
18. SALIENT Alien [outsider] within st [street, road]
20. RETREAT Double definition
22. DEFER F [fellow] within Dee [river] + R [river]
23. AVIAN I [one] within A + van [leading group]
24. DRAIN D(aytripper) + rain [downfall]
Thanks Ringo and Sleuth,
I think the woman in 23ac is Ida rather than Ada.
So she is – thanks, Muffyword! Amended now.
Thanks Ringo, I made exactly the same error in 23a. Hmm annoying that.
Thanks, Ringo. Yet another 23a misspeller here! Could someone explain why “point” is the definition of SEMICOLON (18a)? Also, in 15a, wouldn’t Trinity be an academic place or location rather than a “term”? Or am I missing something?