Ricky Jones is unlikely to play again this season after breaking his leg when holders Dings Crusaders bowed out of the Gloucestershire Cup to Coney Hill on Wednesday.

With regular No 9 Waylon Gasson having left the club for Newbury last summer, the former Colston's School pupil was promoted to Dings' first choice scrum-half this term.

He was named man of the match in the club's last home league game, when the Lockleaze-based side came within five minutes of beating National Division Three South leaders London Scottish a fortnight ago.

But Jones has now suffered two frustrating injuries, having spent a long spell out of the side with a hamstring problem earlier this season. The versatile Neil Dipple moves to scrum-half for Saturday's home match with strugglers Chinnor (2.30pm).

"I can't see Ricky playing again this season," confirmed Dings director of rugby Alan Martinovic.

"He will spend four to six weeks in plaster and it will be another four weeks before he is ready to play. That will take us more or less to the end of the season."

Martinovic added: "Ricky has had to battle away behind Waylon for quite some time. But he is a character that won't let this keep him down. I am sure he will bounce back and come back as good as new."

Martinovic also makes three other changes to the side that beat Henley 32-24 last weekend, recalling prop Barry Cole, flanker Mitch Quoi and wing Sylvan Edwards.

Dings have lost their last two home matches, with the 18-16 defeat to the Exiles followed by Coney Hill's 31-15 success, which ended their bid for a third consecutive County Cup crown.

Dings selected a second team for the latter game, apart from Jones and Dipple, who scored all of their points with two tries, a conversion and a penalty.

Martinovic reckons the Chinnor game will be a bigger challenge than facing a promotion-chasing team.

He added: "Playing a team like Chinnor this time of year will be difficult. They are fighting away for points and wins.

"In some respects it is harder than playing a top-of-the-table side. They are desperate and desperate sides can become dangerous.

"Also, if you look at their results they have beaten some good teams. Barking and Bridgwater have both been thrashed by Chinnor."