The Guardian Cryptic Answers - Friday, 9th April 2010 There are 14 across clues and 14 down clues for the The Guardian Cryptic crossword on Friday, 9th April 2010. View the answers below.. Also try..All The Guardian Cryptic AnswersAll PublicationsThe AnswersNumber# Clue Answer AAcross 8: Playing around is a thing of the pastDINOSAURAAcross 9: First man in right keyOPENERAAcross 10: Reportedly tipped the scales for VirginiaWADEAAcross 11: Flower show out of place, shortage of air aboutPOINSETTIAAAcross 12: Reach a time for volunteers at homeATTAINAAcross 14: Aunt Sally clips rough-spoken student smartlySHREWDLYAAcross 15: Danger lies in live model being cut near ribsBRISKETAAcross 17: Don't care for real nut spreadNEUTRALAAcross 20: Party worker to behave during lively visit? On the contraryACTIVISTAAcross 22: Bidding with early start, he comes in on time an hour aheadBEHESTAAcross 23: Planned debateDELIBERATEAAcross 24: Custom is for beginners to work on new tasksWONTAAcross 25: Expecting young one to have nightmaresINCUBIAAcross 26: Oarsman following managed to return thinnerNARROWERDDown 1: Strides a path to ruinDISASTERDDown 2: Took to horse as daughter tucked into a bit of fishRODEDDown 3: This time around, first pull into pieces then throw cold water onDAMPENDDown 4: Lift consumes power — time to start a tedious walkTRAIPSEDDown 5: Old lag will do in a jamCONSERVEDDown 6: Vigil kept for a beetleDEATHWATCHDDown 7: Measure adopted in face of rejectionDENIALDDown 13: Mistrustful head needs a replacement to be promisingAUSPICIOUSDDown 16: Catching great narrative, incorporating the same in LatinEPIDEMICDDown 18: Awfully tense in Lincoln? One wasn't thereABSENTEEDDown 19: Gentle music or some big orchestra instead?STRAINSDDown 21: Beheading, as regards improving future stock, could be giving the go-aheadCUEINGDDown 22: Blurred by embracing Shakespeare's very foolish, fond old manBLEARYDDown 24: Fleece left on courtWOOL