Dainton win league title
The answer has to be a definite 'no' judged by reaction among rival clubs in the wake of team captain Steve Spicer and his squad's three-point winning margin ahead of joint runners-up Teignmouth and Stover.
Messages of congratulations poured in on Saturday night, led by defending champions Teignmouth, whose South Devon League team captain Simon Whittle and vice captain Darren Chamberlain shared in Dainton's euphoria.
"After being so close the last couple of years, they have finally crossed the finishing line in front, and well done.
"Rest assured, though, we will be back next year to try and regain our crown," was the message from Haldon Moor.
The fulsome praise from their opponents was not lost on Spicer and his team who, through the Herald Express, thanked not only team sponsors Kingfisher Print but the SDL teams for their healthy competition throughout the season and their messages of congratulations.
"Success comes after a series of second places during previous campaigns and, finally this year, we've crossed the threshold first. It's well and truly thrown the monkey from our backs," said Spicer.
The club's supporters also turned out in large numbers to cheer the team to victory on Saturday, albeit Churston didn't make it easy for Dainton before the match was halved with four and a half points each.
It marked the climax to a particularly fine SDL season for Simon Langler, who took his haul to seven-and-a-half points from the eight matches he played, mainly in partnership with Tommy Thompson.
Langler's final tally might even have been more but for his season being interrupted by a honeymoon!
There were also excellent wins at the weekend for junior member Hayden Priscott and playing partner Andy Greenall, while Spicer and Keith Snape left it until the 18th before Snape sank a 20ft putt for victory to raise one of the loudest cheers of the day.
Needless to say, celebrations carried on long into the night thanks to the generosity of Dainton's owners.
"I think the roof just about stayed on," said one of the partygoers.
In Saturday's other matches, Teignmouth won 5-4 at home to Stover, and Warren made a mockery of their basement image with a 6-3 victory over Torquay at Dawlish.
RESULTS
Dainton Park v Churston: (Dainton first) Mike Tufrey (8) & Mike Penlington (12) lost to Simon Loosemore (12) & John Rogers (8) 1-down, Mike Collins (8) & Graham Catley (8) bt Neil Haydn (7) & John Stockman (11) 2/1, Steve Spicer (7) & Keith Snape (9) bt Ian Wilson (9) & Rick Jones (9) 1-up, Andy Greenall (7) & Hayden Priscott (6) bt Chris Ashford (7) & Justin Paddock (11) 1-up, Matt Kneebone (6) & Ross Beer (6) halved with Steve Wakeham (9) & Christian Pomeroy (9), Peter Kneebone (5) & Marc Kneebone (7) lost to Jon Parsons (5) & Lee Klinkenberg (10) 2/1, Andy Ryland (6) & Richard Ward (6) lost to Simon Bawden (3) & Mike Bruce (6) 4/2, Simon Langler (6) & Tommy Thompson (5) bt Jim Pettigrew (5) & Joe Davies (3) 2/1, James Carson (3) & Nathan Brown (3) lost to Jimmy Warwick (2) & Rob Skornia (3) 3/2. Dainton Park 4½pts Churston 4½.
Teignmouth v Stover: (Teignmouth first) Andy Burnham (9) & John Mclachan (13) bt Roger Fyfe (9) & Andy Carpenter (6) 4/3, Chris Evans (6) & Dave French (10) bt Chris Holgate (6) & Neil Goddard (9) 3/2, Charlie Armitage (7) & Paul Brinton (8) lost to Andy Beazley (10) & Tony Stanton (5) 1-down, Alan Munson (5) & Paul Cayless (9) lost to Neil Hayman (8) & Andy Webb (6) 5/3, Simon Whittle (6) & Dave Wills (7) lost to Clive Hutchins (7) & Graham Green (7) 1-down, Darren Chamberlain (4) & Dave Godley (9) bt Richard Pascoe (6) & Matt Lyne (8) 4/3, Rory Hunt ((4) & Ian Wallis (5) bt Barry Chubb (6) & Danny Booker (7) 3/2. Mark Haskell (4) & Luke Radford (5) bt John James (4) & John Hayman (6) 4/3, Richard Armitage (2) & Dave Best (3) lost to Tom Mitchell (4) & Jason Hampton (1) 1-down. Teignmouth 5 Stover 4.
Warren v Torquay: (Warren first) Steve Mayes (13) & Tony Sluman (13) halved with Colin Rowland (10) & Matt Hawker (10), Dave Robertson (13) & Dave Heaton (8) lost to Rod Chapman (7) & Gary Passmore (8) 1-down, Mike Davis (12) & John Stokes (9) bt Rob Corbett (8) & Mike Goodrich (6) 3/2, Cavan Harker (10) & Gary Dimond (9) lost to Jason Brooks (4) & Peter Jeffery (10) 1-down, Aaron Robertson (11) & Dave Cooke (9) halved with Chris Lang (5) & Chris Relph (8), Carl Kinson (8) & Dave Kelly (8) bt Tom Pillar (6) & Mark Pillar (7) 1-up, Jamie Nickles (11) & Sal Khadaroo (5) bt Andy Parnell (6) & Mark Giffard (7) 4/2, Ben Harding (6) & Marcus Dove (4) bt Matt Harkin (5) & John Madge (8) 3/2, Colin Papworth (2) & Andy Parker (5) bt Steve Thorne (1) & Mark Jeffery (6) 1-up. Warren 6 Torquay 3.
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