FORMER Dudley Hill prop Steve Laws has died after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

One of Bradford's best players in the late 1970s through to the 1990s, he signed professional forms for Halifax in 1977 and made 32 appearances for them in seven years.  

He then returned to Dudley Hill and was the pack enforcer in their glory days, whiuch included winning the National Cup.

Laws then had a short spell at West Bowling, followed by a move to Birkenshaw, where he was a mainstay in the team before eventually hanging up his boots in the late 1990s.

Steve was also a well-known doorman at various Bradford night spots over many years.

Dudley Hill stalwart Andy Harland, who was a team-mate of Laws, said: “Steve was a tremendous, tough uncompromising prop forward who took the blows and gave them out in equal measure.

"He looked after the younger lads and brought them through the ranks, and as a scrum half I always knew my back was covered when he was in the pack.”