GIVEN the Giants' punishing April programme and the mounting injury list, a 44-14 defeat at the home of Super League champions Leeds Rhinos is hardly the worst scoreline in the world.

In fact, after having to play St Helens twice, Bradford and Wigan before travelling to face the world club champions without five senior players, some would argue that last night's result was better than anyone could have expected.

And, in truth and given the way the Giants performed, the final scoreline could have been a whole lot closer.

After conceding two tries to Rob Burrow in the opening 15 minutes to trail 10-0 - Kevin Sinfield added the second conversion - Huddersfield gave their hosts a real run for their money.

By the 50th minute, the Giants were still firmly in the hunt at 22-14, and it was only in the final quarter when the dreaded injuries once again began to bite that Leeds were able to cut loose.

Until that stage, Giants coach Jon Sharp was an understandably proud man.

Not too long ago, a Huddersfield side that fell 10 points behind to the Rhinos so early on would have simply fallen apart.

But not any more.

The Giants are now made of far sterner stuff, and once they started to settle to the cause they found that they were capable of matching their illustrious hosts.

By the 19th minute, the deficit had been cut to 10-6 as a jinking run to the touchline by Chris Thorman enabled Bolu Fagborun to dive in at the corner and record his first Super League try.

Thorman than added the extras from in front of the highly vocal South Standers, and the Giants had signalled their intent.

Two minutes later an outstanding Burrow tackle prevented Paul White from racing 60m to give his side the lead.

But following a stunning break from deep by Stuart Jones in the 28th minute, the position was created for Thorman to bang over a penalty and cut the Leeds lead to two.

It was no wonder, therefore, that Gareth Ellis's 32nd-minute converted score was greeted with a sense of relief by the 15,000-plus Leeds faithful.

That try was pretty cruel on the Giants, who until that point had remained the dominant power.

Yet worse was to follow on the stroke of half-time.

An injury to Marcus St Hilaire - who performed excellently at full-back - in the Leeds 20 left Huddersfield stretched in defence.

And Keith Senior was on hand to take full advantage by charging through and releasing Liam Botham to score another converted try.

With just seconds remaining before the half-time hooter, the home side's lead had been extended to 22-8 and the Giants were left with a mountain to climb.

But there was renewed hope within 10 minutes of the restart, thanks to the highly impressive Brad Drew.

Collecting the ball on the Leeds 20 on the sixth tackle, Drew spotted a gap, darted through and then stepped beyond the last line of defence to score a superb solo try.

The Australian hooker also added his conversion and the visitors were back in the hunt at 22-16.

Unfortunately, however, Drew was forced to take conversion as Thorman had just left the field because of his sore back and Michael De Vere was continuing to struggle with his groin, although he did manage to produce a performance right out of the top drawer.

But with the changes having to been forced, it was almost inevitable that the Giants would run out of steam.

And in the final 25 minutes, Burrow completed his first hat trick for the club, Willie Poching scored twice and Ali Lauitiiti also crossed as Leeds went on to rattle up a scoreline which did little justice to the way the Giants had played.