FOR once in a sporting blue moon England's star is rising.

Another awesome display by Clive Woodward's rugby union machine, an England one-day cricket series win and boxer Lennox Lewis' brutal heavyweight title victory made it a weekend to remember on three fronts.

What odds a Wimbledon title for either Tim Henman or Greg Rusedski? That may still be a long shot but Rusedski looked in the groove in his opening match yesterday.

If he can send Andy Roddick the same way as top seed Lleyton Hewitt tomorrow then the championships will really open up.

Henmania will grip SW19 today as Tim carries the weight of a nations hopes on his iffy shoulder.

Still, it was a weekend to savour which got off to a rolling maul with England's comprehensive dumping of Australia in Melbourne.

Had better attacking options being chosen just before half-time when Martin Johnson's men had the Wallabies staked out grilling on a barbie, the margin of victory would have been greater than 25-14.

But it would be churlish to pick holes in a magnificent all-round team-display.

Now Woodward's men have to deliver in the World Cup. They have a steely determination which suggests that Johnson will lift the global crown at the Telstra Stadium, Sydney, on Saturday, November 22.

Highlight of the match? Josh Lewsey's blockbusting hit on speedster Mat Rodgers. That would not have looked out of place in Lewis's slugfest in Los Angeles.

The 37-year-old London-born king of the ring fought fire with fire against Vitali Klitschko in a blood and thunder epic.

It was a fight Lewis should not have taken. He was ill-prepared to take on such a ferocious bout and was well down on points until the red canyon-like cut opened up all around on the Ukranian's left eye ended the carnage after six rounds.

Lewis should have quit after thrashing Mike Tyson last year when he was on a high. If he goes now the final bell of his glittering career will be drowned out by the sound of boos from the Staples Centre crowd.

If Lewis's career is near the end, then Michael Vaughan's start to England cricket captaincy could not get much better.

His young side are quick learners and bounced back from a match down to defeat Pakistan 2-1, winning the mini-series in thrilling style at Lord's on the back of Marcus Trecothick's century.

England, like Lewis, rode their luck. On another day they could have lost, the line between victory and defeat can be fingernail thin at times.

Knights to see you...

THE International York 9's is proving a great success.

Around 3,000 spectators turned up at Heworth ARL Club to see a feast of fast and furious rugby.

Links between the tournament and York City Knights were forged by the professional club's sponsorship of the Shield event for sides that didn't make the last 16.

Now it can be taken a stage further.

The event is firmly on the RL calendar and it should be possible to stage it on a weekend when the Knights have a home game.

The tournament could be wrapped up by tea-time on Sunday, giving time for players and fans to go and watch the Knights in action in an evening game - hopefully in National League Division One.

- TKO was this week compiled by Sports Editor Martin Jarred.

Updated: 09:55 Tuesday, June 24, 2003