THE Giants' injury crisis at first-team level had a devastating effect on the Senior Academy side as they suffered a heavy 59-6 First Division defeat at Salford last night.

A healthy Super League squad for the City Reds meant the home side were able to field a virtually full-strength Under 21s side.

The Giants, on the other hand, were again forced to scrape a side together, with a distinct lack of senior squad men.

As a result, the visitors included 11 members of their Under 18s Junior Academy side, and the final outcome was inevitable.

Huddersfield did get off to a bright start, taking the lead after three minutes with a well-worked try.

Scrum half Lee Simpson made it possible, chipping over for centre Tom Senior to follow through and score under the posts.

Thomas Hemingway landed the conversion and the Giants were ahead.

But it wasn't long before the home side's far more experienced side were taking full control.

Their older and larger forwards began to get on top and, helped by an uneven penalty count, they had charged into a 33-6 lead by the break.

There was little change after the break, with damage limitation the key for the outgunned Giants.

This was clearly a very disappointing result for coach Lee St Hilaire's side, who have now lost valuable ground on fellow title chasers Salford and Leigh.

Huddersfield have lost to both clubs on their travels in the last few weeks.

But they will be hopeful of gaining revenge when the duo visit Yorkshire later in the season, particularly if the injury situation improves.