In this case I had to follow the majority but the crux of the matter is that there is a process in place to provide for dispensation for younger players and it wasn't followed.
This is accurate. There is a process that Karori (me, in fact) didn't follow. It's just a shame that NW used the rules to grab the points when playing a couple of kids can hardly have been said to have influenced the game in Karori's favour.
For the record, one of the kids is about 50 days shy of turning 16 (and being okay to play) and the other one is about 80 days. They're both more than capable of playing senior football. The whole "child welfare" argument has no relevance here.
Fair play to NW, they've played a technicality and got all three points and I have a face full of egg. Just have to take it on the chin and move on.