From 60 teams, 22 secured the required three wins to advance to post-section on Sunday. One notable omission from the qualifiers list was Adam Blucher, who, alongside Brendon Kelly and Peter Blucher, has historically been a strong performer in the triples discipline.

With so many contenders in the field, the post-section proved highly competitive. In the round of 16, a repeat matchup saw Blackjack Tony Grantham take on 1–5 representative Crawford Blair and his team. Blair’s side had previously shocked the bowls community by defeating Grantham and once again applied the pressure. In a tense encounter, Grantham secured a 14–13 victory with the final bowl of the game.

In the quarterfinals, Aiden Takarua, alongside Colin Williams and Harry Davis, continued their strong form against Carlton Cornwall’s David Ball, Patrick Stanaway, and Gerard Hulst. In a high-quality contest of back-and-forth shot play, Ball’s team emerged victorious after Takarua found himself needing four with his final bowl in the last end.

The semifinals delivered another gripping contest. Auckland powerhouses Adam Haywood, Liam Hill, and David Motu were slow to start as Jean-Claude Fuller, Shaun Goldsbury, and Mike Burns (Pt Chevalier) built a solid early lead. However, Haywood’s accuracy under pressure turned the match, swinging momentum and carrying his side through to a 22–17 win. In the other semifinal, Grantham proved too strong for Ball, advancing 16–11.

The stage is now set for a fiercely competitive Auckland versus Mt Albert showdown. The quality across both teams promises a final that should not be missed. If you cannot make it down to Mt Eden this weekend, the match will be streamed live on the Bowls Auckland YouTube channel, ensuring you do not miss a moment of what shapes as a standout final.