THE north Herefordshire sporting community is mourning one of its finest all-rounders after the death of Dave Price at the tragically young age of 66.

"Dave was a man of immense sporting talent," said Luctonians' director of sport Simon Green-Price.

"He was one of the few players to represent Luctonians' first-teams at both rugby and cricket.

"He always had plenty of time in whatever he did which is the mark of a real talent.

"But he was a gentleman, too, and never let the result get in the way."

Price's winters were occupied as a fly-half and, when the seasons changed, he became a wicket-keeper and opening batsman during the summer months.

His formidable opening partnership with Cliff Davis played a considerable part in ensuring that Luctonians held a position as one of the leading clubs in the county following the arrival of league cricket in Herefordshire in the mid-1970s.

His business career saw him found Powell Price Insurance Brokers with John Powell, after a spell with the Prudential which saw him known as Dave 'Insurance' Price around Mortimer Park to differentiate him from others in the club's Price clan.

Dave Price, whose funeral will be held at Kingsland Church tomorrow at 2.30pm, is survived by wife Sue and sons Matthew and Stephen, who has followed his father as a top class cricketer and rugby player.