Quick Cryptic No 382 by Mara

I found this one a bit of a game of two halves. First quick run through the Across clues yielded a dispiriting three answers, but then a similar quick run through the Downs got almost all of them straightaway (apart from 1d - an excellent, deceptive clue in my view). Which then enabled me to circle back and finish off the Across clues without too much grief. Looking back on it, the Across clues don't seem particularly tricky - maybe just took me a while to get on the wavelength.

Some very nice stuff here - 1dn the standout for me, but 20ac, 2dn and 6dn also very good.

Thanks to Mara for a highly enjoyable puzzle.

Definitions underlined: DD = double definition: anagrams indicated by *(--)

As at time of posting, the online version does not seem to be accessible through the Times website. You should be able to access it from this link
http://feeds.thetimes.co.uk/timescrossword/20150826/9402/

Across
7	Dairy produce that's corny? (6)
	CHEESE - Answer is clear enough, but minor query over whether the noun "cheese" equals the adjective "corny". Probably splitting hairs...
8	More tricky trapping American cat (6)
	MOUSER - *(MORE) with " tricky" as the anagrind, including (trapping) US (American). Took me a fair while to spot this, as I did not initially see the anagram signal...
9	One party after another for old bird (4)
	DODO - In crosswordland, party usually gives us DO. So one Do after another...
10	Ultimate in lard, splendid fat (8)
	DRIPPING - D (ultimate - i.e. last letter - in larD) + RIPPING (splendid - as in a ripping yarn). Many a person brought up during the rationing of WW 2 (and its aftermath) speaks fondly of memories of bread and dripping for tea...
11	After the party, there's a battle to get soup (8)
	CONSOMME - CON (party - Conservatives) + SOMME (the tragic battle)
13	Offspring knocked over hot food (4)
	NOSH - SON (offspring) reversed (knocked over) + H (abbreviation of hot)
15	Briefly look for the Sun, say (4)
	STAR - STARE ('look' is shortened - 'briefly')
16	Flat plate securing underwear is a mockery (8)
	TRAVESTY - TRAY (flat plate) 'securing' VEST (underwear)
18	Note needlework around front of tapestry (8)
	CROTCHET - CROCHET (needlework) 'around' T (front of Tapestry)
20	Work of artruined (4)
	BUST - DD: neat clue
21	Corset fashioned for hired companion (6)
	ESCORT - *(CORSET)
22	Mother gets female illness (6)
	MALADY - MA (mother) + LADY (female)

Down
1	Scare away hawk in duel, perhaps? (5-3)
	SHOOT-OUT - SHOO (scare away) + TOUT (hawk). Excellent clue, I thought, with plenty of misdirection going on - spent some time looking for a bird inside some kind of bout
2	March day in Dorset ain't bad (13)
	DEMONSTRATION - *(IN DORSET AINT) with MON (day) also in the mix, with "bad" as the anagrind. Nice surface, elegant clue
3	Some damsel, domesticated rarely (6)
	SELDOM - Hidden (indicated by 'some') in damSEL DOMesticated
4	Referee - I'm pure? Corrupt! (6)
	UMPIRE - *(IM PURE) with "corrupt" as the anagrind
5	Supporter pretends Blues can be beaten (9,4)
	SUSPENDER BELT - *(PRETENDS BLUES) with "can be beaten" as the anagrind. Refreshing to see 'supporter' leading us to an alternative item of lingerie rather than the bra...
6	Averageis low (4)
	MEAN - DD. Neat clue
12	Ruin horse, docking tail (3)
	MAR - MARE (horse with last letter removed - 'docking tail')
14	Reserve first of tables in coastal area (3,5)
	SET ASIDE - SEASIDE (coastal area) with T (first of Tables) inserted
16	Island thanks island, after success (6)
	TAHITI - TA (thanks) + HIT (success) + I (abbreviation of island after success)
17	Condition in maths worked out, then top grade given (6)
	ASTHMA - *(MATHS) with "worked out" as the anagrind, 'then' A (top grade given)
19	Chance taken to bring king and knight up (4)
	RISK - K (king) + SIR (knight) all reversed 'to bring up'