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Press, 7 May 1986, Page 76

Philip Milne (above) of Linwood High School, has not allowed his deafness and withered right arm to prevent him from participating fully in “The Press” high schools rugby league championship. A pupil in the school’s fifth form, deaf unit, Milne has earned his wing position on merit and by determination, playing with and against some of Canterbury’s fin-

est young footballers in the Wednesday afternoon competition. Burdened by his handicaps from birth, Milne had previously played some soccer, but was attracted by the challenge of rugby league when Linwood entered “The Press” championship. Two other deaf students, Mark Bone and John Witchell, are also in the squad. Dale Eagar, the master

in charge of sport at Linwood High School, yesterday praised the courage of the 17-year-old Milne. All the youngster had wanted to know before the first game, after sign language had been used to tell him he would be playing in one half of the match, was “which half?” The 1985 New Zealand front-row forward, Brent Todd, who is coaching the school xm, has been

amazed at Milne’s ability to overcome his difficulties. “Even with only one effective arm, he is strong enough to pull a guy down, and he passes and plays-the-ball as well as anyone else,” said Todd. The Linwood lads have won three of their four matches and meet Papanui High School at Papanui today in the last round before the May holidays.