Sunday Times Crossword 4390

[mollymalloy]

Sunday Times Cryptic Crossword 4390:- 9 Across- Defeated, though played move with care (8) O?E?C?M?...........25 Across:- Breaking of trust by three small boys (8) ?E?R?A??.........20 Down:- Growth leading cattle to get sick in South Africa (6) ?C???A

[Oldred]

20d s c ill a

[Oldred]

9a overcome

[nicelander]

overcame
scilla

[bibblebub]

9a overcame

25a betrayal (compiler seems to think that Bet is a boys name, unless someone's come up with a better explanation)

20d scilla

[Oldred]

25a seen answered as betrayal

[JoolsTwo]

9a Overcome?

[Oldred]

sorry s/b overcame as other answers

[mollymalloy]

Thankyou Oldred, Bibblebub and Icelander. Because of Betrayal (25 Across) does that mean 19 Down is Ethyle -Cooking , they need half the gas (6)...I had Ethane.

[bibblebub]

ethyne = anagram of they+ne(ed)

[diogenes44]

Could be be(r)t + ray + al. three small boys = betrayal

[bibblebub]

Why does the R get removed from Bert?

[diogenes44]

Since when have the rules of the Times compilers complied with prescribed set rules. I've seen all types of wordplay that make no sense whatsoever!! The question is not why the r is removed the question should be why not!

[bibblebub]

perhaps the compiler's got a lisp

[mollymalloy]

Thankyou ALL again!