The Spectator 2446

[Matakari]

Help for the following, please! Thanks in advance!
ACROSS:

16 Holes in English slab
overturned (7)
?E?????

DOWN:
5 Leo going round a street
twice, is an upholder of a
belief (11, two wds)

???N???????

6 Count is rioting —
causing these? (8)
??TO?????

8 Pertinent associations
affecting eleven RCs (10)
??D???????

[Nical]

This thematic crossword has special instructions for entry, I think you should give those for ABers without a copy.

[scorpiojo]

Each clue defines the full solution to which the letter-count refers. However, the cryptic wordplay leads to the grid entry, after one letter has been omitted each time it appears in the full solution. The omitted letters in clue order reveal a relevant timely phrase which solvers should include with their entry.

[Nical]

Thanks, Scorpiojo. It's good - as well as polite! - to give all the relevant bits and pieces.

[scorpiojo]

Agreed :-)

[iminoz]

Hi matakari,
The letters you have for 5d and 8d are incorrect, as is the O in 6d.
It looks like you need to re-organise your entries for 12a and 14a.

[Matakari]

Thanks, Iminoz! I found "dentoid" for tooth-shaped, but there is also "odontoid" with a similar meaning. And "straddle" seemed to go well with "sit astride".

[Nical]

Glad you're making progress, Matakari.

[iminoz]

"Straddle" is correct, but remove the R

[Matakari]

Thanks again, Iminoz, but I seem to be at a loss still, I thought I had to remove the "E" from straddle. What is the rationale for removing the "R"?

[hankir]

Stump means staddle.
Sit astride is Straddle.

That is why R is removed.