After several frustrating days of inclement weather in Auckland, The Trusts New Zealand Open finally resumed outside at the Blockhouse Bay Bowling Club, with the weather gods obliging long enough to reveal the last eight standing in the men’s and women’s pairs respectively.

Pt Chevalier's promising development bowler Alex Reed sends one down in his post-section pair's encounter with Royal Oak front runners' Martin Dixon and Mike Galloway. Reed, and his skip, Aiden Takarua, came unstuck against the vast experience of the Dixon-Galloway combination.

In a recently released statistic, Auckland has already been drenched with more than one-third of the normal annual rainfall during 2018 – a staggering figure given we’re less than 50 days into the year and the dangerously lurking tropical Cyclone Gita looms large going into next week.

A welcome spell in conditions saw the men’s pairs get underway on day two of the main event, marking a surprise exit for reigning champions Jamie Hill and Chris Le Lievre - bowing out narrowly to the composite pairing of Duane McDonald and Gordon Smith 13-12 in a final end thriller.

Other combinations lining up later this week include the well-travelled Central Otago duo of Alistair Watson and Richie Muir who look strong contenders after dispatching last year’s triples runner-up David Hood and Barry Allison 21-7, while the formidable partnership of Royal Oak stalwarts Mike Galloway and Martin Dixon, who earlier put paid to the title run of Auckland youngsters Alex Reed and Aiden Takarua – will now find themselves up against Northland representative Denis Brewster.

Across rinks, Bridge Park’s Teo Turua and Phil Taylor will go toe-to-toe with local composite Tony Garelja and Billy Fulton, while Watson will take on 2014 triples champion Shane McGonagle and lead James Williams. The final quarter-final exhibition will see Maungaturoto's Kevin Robinson and Wayne Wrack - with the winner advancing through to take on either McGonagle or Watson in Friday's semi-final.

Meanwhile, the women’s field saw another early exit play out for New Zealand Development rep Ashleigh Jeffcoat and partner Rebecca Jelley – narrowly conceding defeat to the composite side of Margaret Davies and Margaret Henderson – though a second-round fixture against the class of Kensington pair Lauren Mills and Chris Budge saw Davies' good run short-lived.

An unfortunate turn of health saw Hinuera bowler and reigning pairs champion Margaret McLeod collapse on the green, prompting Auckland bowler Jill Fraser to fill the void with Elaine McClintock – though a solitary point loss to hometown favourites Corinne Pritchard and Colleen Pert has opened the door to finding a new champion later this week.

Papakura hopefuls Natarsha Grimshaw and Leanne Poulson were also pipped at the post by quarter-finalists Karen Hema and Linda Ralph – with the Carlton Cornwall ladies now going on to play another home-green combo Margaret Aldous and Marion Vague – proudly flying the Blockhouse Bay flag and enjoying the willing support crowd.

In other fixtures, former champions Anne Bateman and Carol Bennett will go up against the composite line-up of Lin East and Hilary Ross, while the high performing St Helier’s duo of Catherine Bien and Ling Qu remain firmly on track – though will now have to navigate Pritchard and Pert if they are to proceed any further.

The remaining qualifiers were Glenfield’s Lisa Helmling and Shelley Wilson, who after a strong start to post section will now face their biggest challenge yet as they take on 2015 champion Mills in what promises to be an unmissable fixture.

With quarter-finalists now found in the men’s and women’s singles and pairs, all eyes turn to the triples discipline on Thursday – where the best sides will show their wares in a bid to snap up a last-eight placing.

As the weather finally dries up, play will continue through at the Blockhouse Bay greens, with all finals set to be aired live on Sky Sport 3 this weekend from 9.30am.