However, the advertisement was pulled late on Friday and Whangarei RSA president D'Arcy Bailey yesterday declined to discuss the reason for the retreat.
The withdrawal may have been on legal advice because both the RSA and the bowlers have enlisted lawyers to help them avoid ambushes of any kind over the green separating the rival groups.
Bowling club secretary Barry Nalder said yesterday it was "full steam ahead" for the buildings and assets including bowling equipment, mowers, rollers and seats to be auctioned by Thomson Bagley at the Whangarei RSA Bowling Club clubrooms at 10am on August 31.
Bowlers were viewing RSA opposition to the sale with a good deal of cynicism, he said.
"It's unfortunate we have had to hire lawyers, but at the end of the day the RSA initiated this position and we are just defending our position," Mr Nalder said.
While Mr Bailey would not comment further, the advertisement which was to have been published under his name had warned that bowlers or their agents would not be permitted on to the Rust Ave site to deal with the buildings and any attempt to do so would be regarded as trespassing.