Times Cryptic 28910

Solving time: 31 minutes

I found this fairly straightforward.

As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]. “Aural wordplay” is in quotation marks. I usually omit all reference to juxtaposition indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.

Across
1	Philosopher and squad, not working (5)
	PLATO
	PLATO{on} (squad) [not working – not ‘on’]
4	Issues stall inexperienced, singular partnership (9)
	NEWSSTAND
	NEW (inexperienced), S (singular), STAND (partnership). Collins: stand – in cricket an extended period at the wicket by two batters.
9	Registering game opponents, incapably drunk (9)
	ENROLLING
	E + N (game opponents – in Bridge: East / North ), ROLLING (incapably drunk)
10	“The real” Star Trek character? (5)
	MCCOY
	Two definitions. Although its origin is in some doubt  “the real McCoy” is used to describe something authentic and of high-quality. Dr McCoy aka “Bones” was a character in Star Trek.
11	Advocates being called here for a drink? (3,3)
	THE BAR
	“Called to the bar” signifies joining the ranks of barristers, and those qualifying may be termed ‘advocates’ especially in the USA and Scotland. Drinks are available at the other type of bar referred to here.
12	Composer and lass eating cheese with last drop of Chianti (8)
	GABRIELI
	GAL (lass) containing [eating] BRIE (cheese), then {Chiant}I [last drop]. There was more than one composer in the Gabrieli family, but Giovanni (1554-1612) was the most famous of them. Here’s a sample of his work.
14	Upset stomach, with bad days drinking cola (9)
	DYSPEPSIA
	Anagram [bad] of DAYS containing [drinking] PEPSI (cola). Does somebody at The Times have shares in this product?
16	European flag at front of hotel (5)
	IRISH
	IRIS (flag), H{otel} [at front]
17	Hard branch of maths? On reflection, it’s the circumference (5)
	GIRTH
	H (hard) + TRIG (branch of maths) reversed [on reflection]
19	Controller of number of vehicles you subsequently overheard (9)
	REGULATOR
	REG (number of vehicles), then aural wordplay [overheard]: U + LATER / “you” + “later” (subsequently)
21	Codebreaker admitting to providing private education (8)
	TUTORING
	TURING (codebreaker – Alan) containing [admitting] TO
22	Film villain‘s casual task (6)
	ODDJOB
	ODD JOB (casual task). Harold Sakata played ‘Oddjob’ in Goldfinger, the first Bond film I ever saw and by far the best, although I admit I have seen no more than a couple of them since Roger Moore hung up his Walther PPK – or was it a P99?
25	Big cat initially gets into line (5)
	TIGER
	G{ets} [initially] contained by [into] TIER (line)
26	Most shocking of places? (9)
	EPICENTRE
	Cryptic
27	See guerrilla interrupting schedule (9)
	ROCHESTER
	CHE (guerrilla) contained by [interrupting] ROSTER (schedule)
28	In a reserved way, have a fling with heartless lady (5)
	SHYLY
	SHY (have a fling – at a coconut perhaps), L{ad}Y [heartless]

Down
1	The Conjuror‘s Grid — is it a Potter novel? (15)
	PRESTIDIGITATOR
	Anagram [novel] of GRID IS IT A POTTER
2	Give the thumbs up to a virtual classic (5)
	AGREE
	A, GREE{k} (classic) [virtual – almost]
3	Cricket side go off holidaying (2,5)
	ON LEAVE
	ON (cricket side), LEAVE (go off)
4	En famille, regularly supplying cover (4)
	NAIL
	{e}N {f}A{m}I{l}L{e} [regularly]. Cover on the tip of a finger for example.
5	Two happy dogs heard in city on the Murrumbidgee (5,5)
	WAGGA WAGGA
	Very dubious aural wordplay [heard]: WAGGA / “wagger”  x 2 (two happy dogs). I foresee complaints from our down under correspondents because it’s not pronounced like happy dogs.
6	Asian warrior is carrying a strange article around (7)
	SAMURAI
	IS containing (carrying) A RUM (strange) + A (indefinite article) reversed [around]
7	Pseudoscientist’s revolutionary mark in a register (9)
	ALCHEMIST
	CHE (revolutionary) + M (mark) contained by [in] A + LIST (register). It’s a bit unfortunate that after having CHE (guerilla) in a schedule at 27ac we now have CHE (revolutionary) in a list!
8	Poor Roger badly hit by blatant overcharging (8,7)
	DAYLIGHT ROBBERY
	Anagram [poor] of ROGER BADLY HIT BY
13	Harsh cord with neat woven binding (10)
	ASTRINGENT
	Anagram [woven] of NEAT containing [binding] STRING (cord)
15	Important to plan way to judge private clubs (9)
	STRATEGIC
	ST (way – street), RATE (judge), GI (private – army rank), C (clubs – cards)
18	Hoarder ordered seafood (4,3)
	HARD ROE
	Anagram [ordered] of HOARDER
20	Run(g)s (7)
	LADDERS
	A double definition of sorts neatly combined into one. ‘Runs’ as ladders in tights etc, and ‘rungs’ as the horizontal crossbars of ladders for climbing.
23	Dockland structure rather black? (5)
	JETTY
	JET-TY a word meaning ‘rather black’ perhaps as defined in the Uxbridge English Dictionary
24	No nonsense seaside entertainer on here? (4)
	PIER
	PIER{rot} (seaside entertainer), [no nonsense]. The definition is reflexive.