AS soon as the two sides were announced for this contest, the outcome was inevitable.

With hosts Batley fielding a virtual full-strength National League I line-up and the Giants putting out a team made up entirely of Junior and Senior Academy players, the Bulldogs were always going to have far too much bite.

Not surprisingly, they were much bigger, stronger and far too experienced for a Giants side that averaged just 18!

Huddersfield had hoped to have gone into the game looking a little stronger, although it was pretty obvious they were never going to field their senior players so soon after the trip to Wigan.

But if Bolu Fagborun, Simon George, Paul Mennell and Peter Robinson hadn't picked up knocks at the JJB Stadium on Thursday or Thomas Hemingway not played the full game, they would have been in action at Batley.

And without them, the Giants' task became so much harder.

There were still some positive moments from the youngsters on duty, such as the performances of prop Chris Lawson, hooker Matthew Whittaker and stand-off Leroy Cudjoe, and the two tries fron Lawson Ashley Johnson.

But for much of the contest the visitors were forced on to the back foot by a Batley side ready to begin their senior campaign next weekend.

Yet in the opening quarter, the visitors more than held their own.

After conceding a third-minute try to Michael Wainwright, the Giants began to settle confidently to the task.

And by the 11th minute they had hit the front when a superb short Whittaker pass sent Lawson charging over. Danny Garside converted and the youngsters had taken the lead.

By half-time, however, the Bulldogs were making their extra experience count, with Tim Spears, former Wakefield Super League winger Wainwright and Martin Kenyon all scoring tries.

And with former Giants centre Stephen Jones landing two goals, the home side had opened up a 20-6 interval advantage.

Batley became even more dominant after the break and added further tries through winger Jamie Stokes, who crossed four times, Jones with two and Neil Roden with another.

But the Giants had the last word when Johnson plunged over from acting half-back for a try in the last minute, which Garside converted superbly from the touchline.

It was a fitting reward for the side's never-say-die attitude against tremendous odds.

Batley Bulldogs: Sibson; Stokes, Spears, Jones, Wainwright; Roden, Robinson; Jarrett, Boothroyd, Stenchion, Cooke, Smith, McLoughlin. Subs (all used): Lythe, Houston, Thewlis, Richardson, Gallagher, Kenyon, Bissell, Lindsay, Menzies.

Tries: Wainwright (3 & 22), Spears (20), Kenyon (32), Stokes (47, 59, 69 & 75), Roden (50), Jones (54 & 65).

Goals: 7 from 11.

Huddersfield Giants: Hull; Brown, Wall, George, Johnson; Cudjoe, Garside; Lawson, Whittaker, Lee, Flaherty, Williams, Brooke. Subs (all used): Dobbs, Clark, Martin, Donlan, Bellshaw, Gee, Housley.

Tries: Lawson (11), Johnson (79).

Goals: Garside 2 from 2.

Half-time: 20-6.

Referee: Ian Smith (Oldham).

Attendance: 708.