GIVEN the patched-up nature of the Giants side sent into Super League battle in the capital, the final outcome could have been much worse!

Admittedly, that is of very little consolation to coach Jon Sharp and his men in their bid to reach the top six play-offs for the first time.

But with seven first-choice players ruled out, Huddersfield did put in a highly creditable display against a London Broncos side who are at the very top of their form.

With Michael De Vere (hand), Stuart Donlan (knee), Stanley Gene (knee), Stuart Jones (ankle), Paul Reilly (suspension), Ben Roarty (neck) and Marcus St Hilaire (thigh) all watching from the sidelines, the Giants' small squad was always going to be tested to the absolute limit.

And, on top of that, the Giants were also unable to recall the services of Iain Morrison, who is on loan at Whitehaven but has also picked up a thigh strain!

Was it any wonder, therefore, that Huddersfield returned from London empty-handed, particulary with Donlan and St Hilaire having been ruled out in the final countdown to the capital contest?

But even with such a makeshift side on the field, there were still stages in the game when the visitors had the upper hand.

That was certainly the case in the opening quarter as the Giants built up a thoroughly deserved 14-6 advantage.

Within three minutes, the visitors drew first blood as Brad Drew crashed over from close range and former London favourite Chris Thorman added the conversion.

Paul Sykes hit back with a try he also converted six minutes later.

But when Thorman sliced through for a superb solo converted try and then followed up with a penalty to make it 14-6 after 13 minutes, the signs were looking very promising.

Unfortunately, by half-time it was a totally different story.

In the 25th minute the deficit was reduced to two points when Rob Purdham capitalised on a loose ball following a Broncos high kick on the sixth tackle to score a converted try with ease.

And by the 33rd minute, the hosts had opened up a 22-14 advantage with two more scores.

Both were scored down the Broncos' right, with Nick Bradley-Qalilawa and Mark Tookey crashing over.

If that wasn't bad enough, the Giants then lost another player through injury in centre Ryan Clayton, who had to be carried off with a leg problem five minutes before the break.

Thorman gave his side renewed hope with a penalty within five minutes of the restart to make it 22-16.

But two Broncos tries in a five-minute burst in the 53rd and 58th minutes effectively sealed the Giants' fate.

First, a break by former Giants Academy loan player Joe Mbu created the position for Tyrone Smith to score in the corner.

Then Luke Dorn was rewarded for some smart support play when he stepped through.

Sykes landed both conversions and at 34-16, the Broncos were in complete control.

But credit has to go to the way the battered Giants finished the encounter.

With 12 minutes remaining, they grabbed their third try.

Thomas Hemingway, who went superbly well at full-back, made it possible, executing a 40-20 kick which created the opening for Jim Gannon to plunge over from a Thorman pass.

Sykes' 75th-minute drop goal put the final nail in the Giants' coffin before Chris Nero raced half the length of the field to score in the corner.

Thorman missed the only one of his six kicks on goal, but unfortunately at that stage, a success would have been a minor consolation.

* Huddersfield's Junior Academy side were involved in a thrilling 34-34 draw at home to Widnes Vikings on Saturday.