An Additional Symmetry by Waterloo

Puzzle explanation

Clues, non-explicitly in groups of four, are given as across or down with respect to their clue numbers which, although allocated in normal grid order can be in any corner as if the cell has been rotated. Thus a Down clue with an upside-down number actually runs upwards, etc. Grid numbers reflected the direction of entry. Four entries may be read both ways, eg, the normal entry PORTED (1ac) and the right-to-left entry DE TROP (2dn).

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Answer Explanation
Across
1 PORTED SPORTED – S(ubjects)
3 PETARD (a)PE + TARD(y)
5 RUNG RUN + (son)G
6 DRAWER Two definitions, one facetious as singular of pants = drawers
7 LEAF FLEA, F to end
8 FREE-RIDER DIRE < in (FREE + R)
11 GARRYOWEN (CARRY ON, G for C) about WE(ek)
12 SEAME SAME about E; reference to Shakespearean use
14 CRIME C(oleridge) + RIME; reference The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
15 MEGILP (EG + I + L) in MP
22 OSMOSE OSWALD MOS(E)LEY – WALD – LEY. The Editors (and setter) apologise for the error in the spelling of Mosley. The clue cannot be easily salvaged, though the intended wordplay should be clear once OM is identified.
23 ALPHA A + LP + HA(p); upper case α is written A
25 SNAGS NAGS after S(ugar)
26 STELLATED STELLA + TED
29 TRENCHARD TREND about CHAR
30 STOT STOAT – A
31 RENNET RENNES, T for S
32 EKES EMES, M changed to K
34 SAUCER SAUSAGE – SAGE + CEREAL – (m)EAL
36 ELIDES EL + IDEAS – A(ndalusia)
Down
2 DE TROP DP about (RETRO – R)
4 ALPACAS ALP + ACAS
9 ORMOLU COLOUR * with M(auve) for C(erise)
10 IGARAPE I + GAR + A + SPEAR – S…AR
12 SWALE SW + ALE
13 AMARACUS MARACA, A first + US
14 CACHE CACHET – T’
16 ARMCHAIR MARCH * + AIR
17 INGEST GETS * after IN
18 REWARD HEREWARD (the Wake) – HE
19 TENNER TENNÉ + (ea)R
20 HOMAGE HO + MAGE
21 DAYLIGHT AY in DELIGHT – (d)E(pression)
23 ADAGE A + DAG + E(ntertainment)
24 MYRIOPOD (MY + I + O + POD) about R
25 STILE STILETTO – OTT <
27 OSTRICH IC in SHORT *
28 UNHOOK UN + HOOK
33 COTTAGE TAG in COTE
35 SEDILE SEE about LID <
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