Weekend Quick Cryptic 67 - Solution

My fellow TimesforTheTimes contributors Phil Jordan, Sawbill and I are continuing to produce Quick Cryptic crosswords to fill the gap left by the Saturday Times not having one. The plan is for us to take turns, publishing one a fortnight, and this week it's Sawbill's turn. 

You can find a link to the crossword here and the answers below. Feel free to leave any comments or questions here as you would do on TfTT. You can find an index to the complete series of crosswords here.

Before looking at the answers, if you would like some additional help, click the label below.

Hints...

Some hints and tips:

• 17A is a reverse cryptic where the answer is wordplay for "elfs".
• The tackle in 1D occurs in American Football.
• In 12D "orbit" refers to part of the body.

And click on this label to get the solution.

Solution and explanation of the answers...

Definitions underlined in bold italics, (Abc)* indicating anagram of Abc,  {deletions} and [] other indicators.

Across
1 In what way is following teams not the most important thing? (8)
SIDESHOW – SIDES (teams) HOW (in what way).
5 Trounced regularly on pitch (4)
TONE – TrOuNcEd [regularly].
9 Get to the top of Conservative branch (5)
CLIMB – C (conservative) LIMB (branch).
10 New form of lace, it's stretchy (7)
ELASTIC – [new form of] (lace it’s)*.
11 Used to relax possibly in a trailer once? (12)
RECREATIONAL -  [possibly] (a trailer once)*
13 Famous dog that is following girl (6)
LASSIE – LASS (girl) I.E. (that is).
14 Wind up before start of the service (3,3)
TEA SET  - TEASE (wind up) [start of] The.
17 How to construct this clue for 'elfs'? (4,8)
SELF ASSEMBLY – Reverse cryptic. An anagram [ASSEMBLY] of (elfs)* -> SELF.
20 Farthest old poplar, say, hosting a bit of mistletoe (7)
EXTREME – EX (former) TREE (poplar, say) outside, [hosting], [a bit of] Mistletoe.
21 Ship bottoms are smooth on the way back (5)
KEELS – SLEEK (smooth) reversed, [on the way back] -> KEELS.
22 Organs in Wearside (4)
EARS – Hidden [in] wEARSide.
23 Changes scale for outside (2,6)
AL FRESCO – [changes] (scale for)*.
 
Down
1 In USA tackle fire (4)
SACK – Double definition, the first a tackle on the quarterback in American Football.
2 Clubs for motorists (7)
DRIVERS – Double definition.
3 Those working under a Boss intrude by mistake (12)
SUBORDINATES – (a boss intrude)* [by mistake].
4 Musical works in primarily odd places and times (6)
OPERAS – First letters of, [primarily], Odd Places, ERAS (times).
6 Frequently seen in loft entrance (5)
OFTEN – [seen in] lOFT ENtrance.
7 Go up each side checking anything at first behind schedule (8)
ESCALATE – Each Side Checking Anything [at first] LATE (behind schedule).
8 Chippendale, say, rearranged item near back (7,5)
CABINET MAKER – [rearranged] (item near back)*.
12 Replacement found in orbit, perhaps? (5,3)
GLASS EYE – Cryptic definition.
15 Joins fighting force I left (7)
SOLDERS – SOLD{i}ERS (fighting force) without the I [I left].
16 A bulge on top (2,4)
AS WELL – A SWELL (bulge)
18 Afterwards? Dead right. (5)
LATER – LATE (dead) R (right).
19 Now and again would show up in capital (4)
OSLO – Alternate letters, [now and again], of wOuLd ShOw, [up] -> OSLO.