The New Zealand Universities women's lightweight quadruple sculls crew (back) leads Australia in the transtasman universities rowing test on Lake Hayes yesterday. Photo by Kevin Strickland.

The women's lightweight quadruple sculls clinched a win for New Zealand in the first transtasman universities test on Lake Hayes yesterday.

The crew of Amanda Thompson, Penny Farrell, Hayley Jenkins and Leigh Johnstone took the lead from the start and was never challenged.

The crew from Otago University had clear water at halfway in the 2km race and went on to win by 18.25sec.

New Zealand crews won the test 3-1 to take an early grip on the Trans Tasman Cup it won when the event was last held in 2008.

The men's lightweight four of Andrew Annear, Andrew O'Connor, Armin Svoboda and James Robins also won but the race was much closer.

The lead changed a couple of times and it was only in the last 150m the New Zealand crew pulled away to win by 3.1sec.

Australia went out fast in the women's eight and had half a boat length on the New Zealand crew at halfway.

But it slid off the course slightly with 500m to go and the New Zealand crew took advantage of this to win by 1.1sec.

The New Zealand crew was Kirstie James, Sarah Lindley, Sara Smith, Kirsty Thompson, Elicia Milne, Annabel Rowlands, Lydia Dockrill, Julia Watherston and Isabel McLernon (cox).

Australia's only win came in the mens eight when it beat New Zealand by 2.1sec.

Australia got the jump on New Zealand from the start and took control of the race.

New Zealand closed the gap in the last 400m but it was too little and too late.

The second test will also be held on Lake Hayes tomorrow and the 5km race on Otago Harbour on Saturday morning.