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The sun is out in full force and the competition is heating up as AIMS Games events step up a notch after the first full day of competition.

The country's biggest national school sporting championships began with fervour across the city on Monday, following Sunday's cross country competition and opening ceremony.

An Aquinas College player looks to get around the Rosmini College opposition. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

At ASB Arena the Rosmini College basketball team, coached by former Tall Black Dillon Boucher and featuring his son Jayden, showed what a threat they'll be with the biggest win of the day, beating Otumoetai Intermediate 78-7.

At the other end of the scale, Palmerston North's Monrad Intermediate edged Wanganui Intermediate in 28-27.

Manurewa's Randwick Park School was one of seven unbeaten teams on the first day of rugby sevens action, joining Peachgrove, Tauranga, Hawera, Royal Oak, Glen Eden and St Peter's College (Auckland).

Swimming heats began at Baywave Aquatic Centre, while the 19 waterpolo teams all had their first matches.

Bucklands Beach's Rose Zheng struck a fierce blow in the gender wars, equalling the best opening round score in the golf with a nine-over 81 on the tough Omokoroa Golf Club course.

The 1.9-handicapper finished level with Focus Jonglikit (St Peter's Cambridge) and Taupo's Dylan Bagley, and one shot clear of her brother Jimmy.

Back at the netball courts, Auckland's Sylvia Park School was also upsetting stereotypes, featuring three boys in a 12-strong squad.

Making the team even more special is the family ties - identical twin boys Henery and Nick Taulongo featured heavily in their 32-12 win over Te Kura o Te Teko, while twin girls Melelose and Sulieti Manu-Topeni are also in the team.

Brother and sister Samuel and Neelia Fanguna and sisters Pam and Taina Eli complete the family-centric feel of the team.

"They're a really tight-knit bunch on the court and I guess that's because they've all grown up knowing instinctively how each other plays," says Sylvia Park coach Amanda Key.

At Blake Park it was goals a plenty with Auckland Normal Intermediate beating Christchurch South Intermediate 8-0 and Peachgrove Intermediate (Hamilton) crushing St Thomas's School 14-0.

Otumoetai Intermediate beat Mission Heights Junior College 4-1 while Mount Maunganui Intermediate won two matches during the day 5-1 against Bruce McLaren Intermediate and 2-1 over Glen Eden Intermediate.

Former international footballers James Bannatyne and Sacha Haskell, meanwhile, were also present at the tournament with the FIFA under-20 World Cup trophy, which will be played for in New Zealand next May.

Keep watching SunLive for more AIMS Games action throughout the week.