The Guardian Cryptic Answers - Friday, 7th December 2001 There are 14 across clues and 16 down clues for the The Guardian Cryptic crossword on Friday, 7th December 2001. View the answers below.. Also try..All The Guardian Cryptic AnswersAll PublicationsThe AnswersNumber# Clue Answer AAcross 1: Mr Cruise takes a cruise, first on one river then anotherPOTOMACAAcross 5: Some milk I left for a duckPINTAILAAcross 9: It's not fair to mournPLAINAAcross 10: Wearing a metal jacket, one gets no back injuriesABRASIONSAAcross 11: Drunk after drink is unassailableWATERTIGHTAAcross 12: Petty Officer with navy blue materialPORNAAcross 14: A recruit on a manoeuvre? Not at all!AUCONTRAIREAAcross 18: Noted Spanish gypsy taking tea break - one caught by service providerCAR-MECHANICAAcross 21: Vessels a Scottish poet toppedURNSAAcross 22: A paid athlete has to go down deeperPROFOUNDERAAcross 25: Match at sea in sea filmSEMIFINALAAcross 26: Country where native leader is seen in Roman costumeTONGAAAcross 27: Do spies change place in order?DISPOSEAAcross 28: Piece of mosaic Greek god put backTESSERADDown 1: Father waits outside for fruitPAPAWSDDown 2: Short treatises about street transportTRACTSDDown 3: Psychic worker going underground without fearMIND READERDDown 4: Animal taking cover on islandCOATIDDown 5: Dolly bird entered templePARTHENONDDown 6: Regency architect from the north remainsNASHDDown 7: A game soldier taking arrowhead for self-defenceAPOLOGIADDown 8: Spartan commander given only half a toolLYSANDERDDown 13: Mythical murderer misleading court and pressPROCRUSTESDDown 15: Ragged cheer once needed sticking togetherCOHERENCEDDown 16: Damned prosecutor finally smothered by one on trialACCURSEDDDown 17: Chess expert losing last three family membersGRANDMASDDown 19: Part of a wooden seat from Hans Christian Andersen's birthplaceODENSEDDown 20: Prepare girl for battle with the fleetARMADADDown 23: Fair odds allowed for a piece of meatFILETDDown 24: Hairstyle for revolutionary or sportsmenAFRO