This crossword No. 9962 clues and answers were published on Tue 09 Apr 2002 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Quick Crossword No. 9962 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Fairy – ice hockey ball : PUCK
3-across – Hostile criticism – missile : BRICKBAT
8-across – Track : PATH
9-across – Head protection at rugby : SCRUMCAP
11-across – Become worse than before : DEGENERATE
14-across – Good enough : WORTHY
15-across – Short-sightedness : MYOPIA
17-across – Nasty : UNPLEASANT
20-across – Steal : HALFINCH
21-across – Vegetable : BEAN
22-across – Disputant – Cambridge mathematician : WRANGLER
23-across – Cancel correction : STET
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Be quiet! : PIPEDOWN
2-down – Classified group : CATEGORY
4-down – Statement of events – best so far! : RECORD
5-down – Rural dweller : COUNTRYMAN
6-down – Male beast : BUCK
7-down – Kind – kind of writing : TYPE
10-down – Delightful : ENCHANTING
12-down – Seeming : APPARENT
13-down – Strict disciplinarian : MARTINET
16-down – Overused expression : CLICHE
18-down – Display : SHOW
19-down – Appeal : PLEA
This crossword has in total 24 where 12 are across and 12 are down.