Huntingdon’s winning start to the new Midlands Division One East season came at a cost.

Centre Tad Chapman suffered a broken leg during a 21-14 victory at Northampton Old Scouts. He was hurt early in the second half although stayed to watch the rest of the game before going to hospital.

He saw his fellow Stags players battle back from a 14-0 deficit to triumph courtesy of two Richard North tries and a Seth Muggeridge score. Dan Malem guided over two penalties.

Head coach Damien Whales said: “Tad has been a key player for the last couple of years and to lose him to a bad injury in the first game of the season is a real blow. He will probably be out until Christmas.

“It was pleasing to get off to a winning start especially as our away form is what traditionally has let us down.”

Stags could be set to face a backlash this Saturday when they travel to Rugby to take on Old Laurentians.

They were spanked 127-10 in their curtain-raiser at Derby last weekend and Whales is not anticipating a similar scoreline.

“We’ve been informed they struggle to get a side out for the Derby game,” added Whales. “But we’re led to believe that won’t be the case when they play us.

“We just need to focus on building on a good start to the season and putting another away win on the board.”