Cambridge looked sharp and rhythmic on Saturday in a brisk contest against Leander from Putney to Chiswick Steps, which was unfortunately marred by a clash which denied the crews testing their mettle where it mattered most.

Leander took the Surrey station, giving them the outside of the first long bend in a cold following wind. Cambridge went off at higher rate and were five seats ahead long before they settled to 35. Beautifully together, they stretched their lead to seven seats by Fulham Football ground but never achieved clear water. Cambridge stroke Kip McDaniel spent most of the way level with Toby Garbett in Leander’s bow seat.

Leander were feeling their way, but with Olympic champions Steve Williams at stroke and world champions Alex Partridge at 7 and Peter Reed at 5, they made made up ground going into Hammersmith Bridge, and emerged from it turning into the bend in their favour with oars blazing. Cambridge were warned by umpire Peter Bridge before the bridge, and Leander just after it, when knitting blades made contact. Matt Langridge, Leander’s number 3, lost hold of his oar, and Leander were suddenly a broken melee.

When Bridge restarted the crews, Cambridge were about half a length ahead, and they finished just under a length in front at Chiswick Steps.

Duncan Holland, Cambridge’s coach, said: ‘It was an excellent fixture, side-by-side against a fast, tough crew. If the clash hadn’t occurred, I think we’d have gone away.’ Cambridge also had an Olympic champion on board in Kieran West, and matched Leander international for international. They have fewer worries than Oxford for April 2’s Boat Race with 14 days left to go.

Oxford brought Seb Pearce in to replace Nick Brodie in the cox’s seat barely a week ago, and have moved the Canadian Olympian Jake Wetzel to 7 and Tom Parker to 3. Cambridge race Imperial College tomorrow [SUN]. The Imperial crew are all Italians, including six world medallists.

Leander, meanwhile, look strong for the Head of River race on March 25.