Rte Guide 44

[Bernie]

1d. On the attacking team he's quick off the mark to go after the wicked we hear(4,6) ?a?? ???l?r
10a. From the South a weapon of war that's harsh and grating (8)?????e?t
12a. Tanaiste on the way for BHS assembly(Broom Hilda Sisterhood) (5) ?o???
25a. Bogie movie for men of sand that'd bring dust to your eyes(6)?a?a?a
Many thanks

[Toorak]

1 fast bowler
12 coven(en)

[Neveracrossword]

25 Sahara

[Neveracrossword]

10 Strident - S+Trident.

[Toorak]

10 s trident

[dannyk13]

10a.Strident
25a.Sahara

[herbage]

Could somebody please explain how coven is the answer to 12a?

[Toorak]

The tainiste is Simon Coveney (I put covenen by mistake) - I can’t fully parse but assume broom sisterhood refers to witches and something else in the clue directs to remove the last two letters from coveney.

[Toorak]

Maybe ‘on the way’ just suggests that the solution - coven - is short of coveney?

[herbage]

Thanks. Bit of a strange clue imho