Twins Liam, from left, and Connor with little brother Nick and mother Agnes Paterson.
It is rare to be able to pin the Paterson brothers of Sacred Heart College down long enough for a 20-minute interview.
To hear them go through their day's schedule just makes you tired. But twins Liam and Connor, 17, and little brother Nick, 14, have no qualms about packing as much sport into their week as their bodies allow and their "taxi drivers" (mum and dad) can handle.
They live in Manukau, but their second and third homes are the Howick Pakuranga Swim Club training base at Pakuranga College and the Sacred Heart pool. Some days Liam and Connor, both senior students, are lucky to hit the sack by 11pm. They are usually up by 4.45am and will be in the pool by 6am for two hours, brekkie on the run, and then a full day of school followed by more training, either for club (swimming) or school (water polo). They crash, heavily, on the weekends.
Around tournaments and competition, the schedule can be exhausting. Liam, for example, caught a 6am flight to go to the April North Island Schools athletics champs because he was playing for Sacred Heart in a water polo game the night before. He then caught a train to Masterton and promptly finished second in the open steeplechase event.
"Mum and dad have always told us that time management is key from a young age, because we started sport so young. Morning trainings when we were 8 or 9 meant we had to get everything ready for the whole day the night before," says Connor.
The trio were central to a superb unbeaten season for the Sacred Heart Senior A water polo side. Their speed in the pool, a priceless asset in the sport, allows them to get into prime position to convert scoring opportunities. Liam, a centre back, scored two late, match-winning goals against Auckland Grammar in a tense, tight Auckland final.
"The core of the team has been together for five years now. We knew how we all played and understood the team dynamic," says Liam, the allrounder who has played no less than seven sports this year, all to a high standard. He squeezes in study when he can, and always has a book handy if there is downtime at the pool. Connor, like his twin, is also into most sports. A driver or wing in water polo, he, along with Liam, will be off to Hawaii in August with the New Zealand Under 17 water polo side. Nick is in the Under 15s, so a total of $12,000 will need to be raised by then.
Nick is already proving himself a freestyler of rare talent, winning a clutch of gold medals in the 2013 and '14 NZ short-course champs and Counties age groups. As the only year 10 student in the top Sacred Heart water polo team, he is learning fast what it takes to be able to perform in a dominant side.
"They've really taught me how I should play when I grow up, and it shows me how my brothers can play too. They can be quite bossy at times!"
All three boast a list of rep achievements in several sports that are far too long to list here. It will be fascinating to chart their progress, whether it be in swimming, polo, running or even basketball.
Time to go. Nick has swim training, while Liam and Connor are doing some water polo coaching of the juniors. Then they're off home to study. This scribe guiltily contemplates a very long walk.
Rugby
Auckland 1A (round three): MAGS 28 De La Salle 23, Kelston 15 Onehunga 0, Auckland Grammar 48 Papatoetoe 3
St Peter's 30 (D. Fraser, D. Kellett, L. Tolai tries; J. Trainor 3 con, 3 pen) Tangaroa 12 (A. Kata, E. Fagote tries; C. Lemuelu con); Halftime: 10-5 St Peter's
St Kentigern 41 (B. Ennor, S. Nock, F. Lafaele, T. Tele'a, P. Herbert, E. Lamositele, W. Tameifuna tries; Herbert con, pen) King's 10 (M. Olo-Whaanga try; C. Matoe con, pen) Halftime: 30-0 St Kentigern
Sacred Heart 18 (D. Tupou, C. Kelleher, J. Te Huna tries; J. Simpkins pen) Otahuhu 14; Halftime: 9-8 Otahuhu
Standings P W D L F A BP Pts
St Kentigern 3 3 - - 122 41 3 15
Sacred Heart 3 3 - - 79 32 2 14
Auckland Grammar 3 2 - 1 90 21 3 11
King's 3 2 - 1 91 84 2 10
St Peter's 3 2 - 1 76 51 2 10
Otahuhu 3 2 - 1 53 35 2 10
De La Salle 3 1 - 2 46 53 2 6
MAGS 3 1 - 2 34 77 1 5
Kelston 3 1 - 2 30 84 - 4
Papatoetoe 3 1 - 2 48 99 - 4
Tangaroa 3 - - 3 42 86 2 2
Onehunga 3 - - 3 20 68 - 0
Auckland 1B Pool A (round three): Edgewater 25 Southern Cross 5, Macleans 24 St Paul's 7, Pakuranga 10 Sir Edmund Hillary 7
Pool B (round three): Avondale 19 Botany Downs 17, Aorere 41 Liston 5
North Harbour 1A (round three): Westlake BHS 32 (G. Rollinson, H. Calverley, A. Watts, L. McBirney, B. Bond tries; Calverley 2 con, pen) Massey HS 3 (J. Powley-Doreen pen) Halftime: 3-3
Rosmini 34 Birkenhead 14, Orewa 21 Rangitoto 16, Takapuna Grammar bye
Chiefs Cup (round three): Rotorua BHS 15 Hamilton BHS 0, Wesley College 12 Tauranga BC 0, St Paul's Collegiate 21 St Peter's School (Cambridge) 12, Manurewa HS 24 Cambridge HS 13
Chiefs Trophy (round three): Waihi 48 Otorohanga 0, Trident High 24 Rosehill 10, Hamilton BHS 29 Bethlehem 6, Thames HS 34 Pukekohe 0
Football
Senior boys
Auckland Premier League: Sacred Heart College 1 MAGS 1, St Kentigern 1 Auckland Grammar 1, Westlake BHS 2 Kelston BHS 0, Macleans 3 Glendowie 0
Standings P W D L F A Pts GD
St Kentigern 3 2 1 0 10 1 7 +9
Sacred Heart 3 2 1 0 8 2 7 +6
Westlake BHS 2 2 0 0 5 1 6 +4
MAGS 2 1 1 0 5 1 4 +4
Auckland Grammar 3 1 1 1 6 6 4 0
Macleans 3 1 0 2 5 6 3 -1
Kelston BHS 3 0 0 3 1 12 0 -11
Glendowie 3 0 0 3 0 11 0 -11
Senior A1: King's 4 Takapuna Grammar 2, Rangitoto 2 Rosmini 1, Kristin 2 Onehunga 1, St Peter's 4 Liston 2
Senior A Reserve: St Kentigern 1 Auckland Grammar 1, Westlake BHS 10 Kelston BHS 0, Macleans 2 Glendowie 2
Senior A2: Northcote 3 Papatoetoe 1, Rutherford 4 Avondale 1, MRGS 2 Western Springs 0, Pakuranga 4 Long Bay 1
Senior A3: Botany Downs 5 Waitakere 2, Green Bay 5 One Tree Hill 0, Albany Senior High 3 Howick 1, Lynfield 4 Kingsway 3
Senior A4: Selwyn 4 Glenfield 0, Massey 7 Parnell 1, Dilworth 1 Whangaparaoa 1, Sancta Maria 4 Marcellin 1, Orewa 3 Pinehurst 1
Counties Manukau premier: Rosehill 3 De La Salle 1, Ormiston 0 Manurewa 0, Pukekohe 6 James Cook 0, Aorere 1 Strathallan 1
Premier girls
Greater Auckland Premier 1 (U19): Rangitoto 2 Avondale 0, MAGS 9 St Mary's 0, EGGS 2 Westlake GHS 1, Diocesan 1 Botany Downs 0, St Kentigern 6 Onehunga 0
Greater Auckland Premier 2 (U19): Baradene 3 Northcote 0, Marist 2 Rutherford 0, Long Bay 3 Whangaparaoa 0, Green Bay 4 Glendowie 0, Western Springs 4 Lynfield 0
Counties Manukau Premier: Pukekohe 2 Macleans 2, Pakuranga 3 Waiuku 1, Rosehill 1 Howick 0
Basketball
Premier girls: Westlake GHS 85 Massey 60, AGGS 54 Henderson 48, St Kentigern 74 MAGS 47, Rangitoto 67 Avondale 50
Premier boys: Westlake BHS 80 Rosmini 68, Auckland Grammar 87 Liston 67, St Kentigern 85 Onehunga 61, Rangitoto 104 Avondale 29
Badminton
Auckland Premier:
Pakuranga beat EGGS 5-1, Auckland Grammar 1 beat Macleans 2 6-0, King's beat Auckland Grammar 3 3-3 (149-145), Macleans 1 beat Auckland Grammar 2 3-3 (160-153)
Counties Manukau B grade:
Strathallan Olay 4 beat Papakura High 2, James Cook 2 5 beat Manurewa 2 1, Alfriston tied with Otahuhu 3-3, Strathallan Minions 5 beat Manurewa 3 1, Alfriston B2 6 beat James Cook 3 0
League
Premier First XIII (May 21):
Western Springs 24 Westlake 12, Kelston 28 Henderson 10, Massey 52 Auckland Seventh-day Adventist 0, Mt Roskill Grammar 20 Lynfield 8, MAGS 18 St Paul's 12, Aorere 32 Tangaroa 12, Papatoetoe 24 Pakuranga 12, Otahuhu 26 Sir Edmund Hillary 18, Manurewa 24 Southern Cross 20, Papakura 24 James Cook 2
Hockey
Boys
Open A Pool 1: King's 19 Kelston 0
Open A Pool 2: St Kentigern 12 St Peter's 0
Open A Pool 3: Pakuranga defaulted to AGS
Open A Pool 4: Mt Roskill Grammar 2 Sacred Heart 0
Girls
Open A Pool 1: St Cuthbert's 1 9 St Cuthbert's 2 0, Avondale 5 Marist 0
Open A Pool 2: EGGS 7 Pakuranga 0, Macleans 1 King's 1
Open A Pool 3: Diocesan 1 7 Diocesan 2 0, Baradene 4 Mt Roskill Grammar 1
Open A Pool 4: St Kentigern 4 St Mary's 0, Botany Downs 3 MAGS 0
Lacrosse
Division 1 girls: Diocesan 1 21 St Mary's 0, EGGS 1 11 MAGS 1 9, Avondale 1 12 Western Springs 2
Division 2 girls Pool 1: AGGS 15 Diocesan 2 2; St Cuthbert's 1 12 Pinehurst 2, Westlake GHS 15 Whangaparaoa 2 0
Division 2 girls Pool 2: Mt Roskill Grammar 3 EGGS 2 1; Avondale 2 12 St Cuthbert's 2 0
Netball
Auckland Premier: Avondale 38 Massey 24, AGGS 40 Diocesan 20, Aorere 40 St Mary's 22
Auckland Senior A: MAGS Senior 1 35 Onehunga 21, Howick 40 Marist 25, Sancta Maria 27 St Kentigern Senior A 20, AGGS Senior A 39 King's 28, Baradene Senior A 36 Waiuku Gold 28, Macleans 25 St Cuthbert's 24
Counties Manukau Premier Pool 1: Manurewa 26 Papatoetoe 20, Alfriston 51 Sir Edmund Hillary 5, Tuakau 33 Strathallan Navy 20
Premier Pool 2: Pukekohe Gold 44 Papakura 10, Rosehill 34 James Cook Puutake 13, Wesley 21 Nga Tapuwae 12
Golf
Auckland SS strokeplay champs:
Boys
Nett
Nicolas Matijasevich 66 (Sacred Heart) 1, Jonathan Farrow 70 (St Kentigern) 2, Alex McDonald 71 (Pukekohe High) 3
Gross
Tadgh Campbell 71 (Massey High) 1, Sam Reese 72 (Westlake BHS) 2, Jared Edwards 72 (Botany Downs) 3
Girls
Nett
Roxanne Rawnsley 72 (Pukekohe High) 1, Katie Pryce-Jones 74 (Westlake GHS) 2, Olivia Dempster 75 (Baradene) 3
Gross
Wenyung Ken 72 (Botany Downs) 1, Siyi Keh 79 (Botany Downs) 2, Bohyun Vyan Park 79 (Wentworth) 3
Squash
Premier boys 1: Pukekohe 9 Takapuna Grammar 7, Westlake BHS 12 St Kentigern 0
Premier girls: Rosehill 6 Westlake GHS 4
Table tennis
Auckland A Premier grade:
Macleans A beat Auckland Grammar B 6-1
Auckland Grammar A beat St Kentigern A 7-0
Macleans B beat Auckland International College A 7-0
Pakuranga A beat Macleans C 6-1
Underwater hockey
Senior girls:
Diocesan 17 MAGS B 2, EGGS A 10 MAGS A 1, Glendowie beat EGGS B by default, Diocesan 8 MAGS A 2, EGGS A 4 Howick 2
Senior open:
Mahurangi B 18 Macleans 0, Avondale 4 Mahurangi A 0, Mahurangi B 4 MAGS 2, Mahurangi A 11 Northcote 3, Avondale 7 Macleans 1, Glendowie 3 Howick 2
All you need to know about the five new faces in the All Blacks squad to face France.