A trying week of weather in Auckland will see The Trusts New Zealand Open close off in style this weekend, as finalists bid for silverware on the TV rink, and a slice of the lucrative prize pool.

Hosted at the Blockhouse Bay Bowling Club, spectators will be treated to a bowling feast as the men’s and women’s singles, pairs and triples finales get underway from Saturday morning, broadcast live on Sky Sport 3.

Women's pairs finalists - Linda Ralph and Karen Hema (Carlton Cornwall)

In the men’s singles, hometown favourite and 2012 NZ Open singles champion Graham Growcott will prove a popular choice with the local crowd, though expect a strong showing from the Sydney based Chad Grant who notched up some notable scalps enroute to the big dance and will be representing Club Grandviews as the trans-tasman rivalry heats up on the rink.

In a day of thrilling action, Growcott was in promising form throughout as he accounted for pre-tournament favourite and last year’s runner-up Chris Le Lievre in one quarter-final 21-18, while Grant was equally impressive dispatching tournament stalwart Neville Hill by the same margin.

Both Growcott and Grant carried their form through to the semi-finals, comfortably defeating Garry Cotter and Graham Skellern, 21-10 respectively. Other beaten quarter-finalists were Howick’s Les Brown and Manurewa Cosmopolitan’s Roger Andrew.

Across rinks, an unfortunate collapse on the green earlier in the week in the women’s pairs saw singles frontrunner Marilyn McLeod withdraw for health reasons, gifting Tauranga South’s Jenny Welch a direct path through to the semi-final.

Her lack of gameplay in the quarter-final did little to upset her rhythm as she went on to defeat Carlton Cornwall’s Karen Hema 21-17 and book her spot in the final. Standing in her way will be the force of Papakura’s Leeanne Poulson, who had earlier brushed aside Pt Chevalier challenger Rosary Sellick 21-4, before going on to edge her way past former NZ Open pairs champion Agnes Motu, 21-15 - rounding out a strong run of form during the week.

Men's pairs finalists, Shane McGonagle and James Williams.

Beaten quarter-finalists were Coromandel’s Lindsay Nicholls and Opononi’s Sharlene Leaf, both bowlers falling to the strength of Hema and Motu respectively, 21-16, 21-14.

Meanwhile, the men’s pairs saw few upsets unfold in the final rounds, with the experienced Royal Oak duo of Mike Galloway and Martin Dixon progressing through to one side of the final, where they will face a strong match-up in the form of composite pairing Shane McGonagle and James Williams.

The lead up to the finals saw McGonagle and Williams send Central Otago hopefuls Alistair Watson and Richie Muir back on the plane south, before beating the Maungaturoto pairing of Kevin Robinson and Wayne Wrack 19-12 in the semi-final. Similarly, Galloway and Dixon looked untroubled as they defeated Denis Brewster and Larry Valance 22-5, before closing out a strong challenge from Bridge Park’s Teo Turua and Phil Taylor, 15-12 – advancing to Sunday’s final.

In other results, the women’s pairs saw two local sides come to the fore to set up an all Auckland final. St Helier’s Catherine Bien and Ling Qu proved in commanding form as they put paid to the title hopes of Glenfield’s Lisa Helmling, while long-serving Auckland representatives Hema and Linda Ralph were just as convincing, taking care of the composite side of Lin East and Hilary Ross, 22-10 – to secure their second final appearance for the week.

Beaten quarter-finalists were Anne Bateman and Carol Bennett, Lauren Mills and Chris Budge and home green favourites Corinne Pritchard (Colleen Pert) and Margaret Aldous (Marion Vague).

All finals are set to go live from 9.30am on Saturday, kicking off with the women’s triples final, men’s triples final and women’s singles final, - with Sunday’s action scheduled to host the men’s pairs final, women’s pairs final and concluding with the men’s singles final.

Fixtures at a glance

The Trusts New Zealand Open, Auckland Blockhouse Bay Bowling Club, - all finals to be screened on Sky Sport 3 Saturday, February 17 & Sunday, February 18 – from 9.30am each day

SATURDAY

9.30am: Women’s Triples Anne Bateman, Karen Hema, Linda Ralph (composite) vs Esther Eu, Helen Murray, Sheila Putu (composite)

12.30pm: Men’s Triples Neil Fisher, Colin Rogan, John Walker (composite) vs David Eades, Bruce McClintock, Bart Robinson (composite)

3.30pm: Women’s Singles Leeane Poulson (Papakura) vs Jenny Welch (Tauranga South)

SUNDAY

9.30am: Men’s Pairs Shane McGonagle, James Williams (composite) vs Mike Galloway, Martin Dixon (Royal Oak)

12.30pm: Women’s Pairs Karen Hema, Linda Ralph (Carlton Cornwall) vs Catherine Bien, Ling Qu (St Helier’s)

3.30pm: Men’s Singles Graham Growcott (Blockhouse Bay) vs Chad Grant (Grandviews, AUS)