Australia's men's hockey team has topped its group in New Delhi, but already stressed the importance not to squander a golden chance to win the World Cup.

A 15-year-old Japanese schoolboy tipping the scales at 145 kilograms is set to make his professional sumo debut and is already being tipped as a future 'yokozuna'.

Favourites Australia sweated to a 2-1 win over Pakistan overnight to join England in the semi-finals from group B in the hockey World Cup.

Defending champions Germany played out a thrilling 2-2 draw with the Netherlands overnight to throw open the semi-final race in the hockey World Cup.

Queensland champion Blacks A Fake was at his scintillating best to confirm his place as the greatest Inter Dominion performer in history with a demoralising victory in the $1 million series final at Menangle Park on Sunday.

Queensland Firebirds continued their successful build-up to the new trans-Tasman season by dominating the Netball Cup preseason tournament in Sydney.

New South Wales won its third consecutive King's Cup at the National Rowing Championships at Lake Nagambie in Victoria on Sunday.

Favourite Australia defeated Beijing Olympic silver-medallist Spain 2-0 overnight to move closer to a semi-final berth in the men's field hockey World Cup.

Sally Kehoe continued her brilliant showing at the National Rowing Championships by claiming her second and third titles in quick succession at Lake Nagambie in Victoria on Saturday.

The Peter Moody-trained Wanted broke a frustrating run of Group One placings with a commanding all-the-way victory in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.