HUDDERSFIELD Giants have missed out on a place in the Senior Academy Championship on points difference.

Their heavy 70-12 home defeat to Bradford Bulls destroyed all hopes of the Giants earning a place in the top flight.

The reverse came on the back of conceding 60 points in the defeat at Hull the week before.

And it was the margin of defeat which proved the Giants' downfall.

It was clear the ease of Huddersfield's opening wins at Castleford and Featherstone counted against them when they faced stronger opponents in the next two fixtures.

The Giants struggled to match the intensity of Bradford and soon found themselves well adrift.

By half-time they were 32-12 behind and the game had slipped through their grasp.

The visitors continued to dominate after the break and by the end of the contest had scored 14 tries, including two well-taken efforts from Huddersfield Sharks half-back Ritchie Hawkyard.

The bright spots for the Giants were the tries from Bolu Fagborun and Jon Gledhill and two Thomas Hemingway goals.

Huddersfield will now be playing in Division I this season, with Leeds Rhinos having also failed to qualify.

* Flyers coaches for the Giants trip to Wakefield on Friday leave from the St Patrick's Centre at 6.15pm.

The fare is £6, with tickets available from Tony Iredale Travel before Thursday.