Francis Cummins accepted the Bulls were a distinct second-best yesterday after their Magic Weekend misery continued with a thumping 42-6 defeat against Huddersfield.

Bradford had claimed a stunning 43-18 at the John Smith’s Stadium in early March but the Giants turned the tables in resounding fashion.

Back-rower Dale Ferguson grabbed a brace of tries and Scott Grix, Larne Patrick, Shaun Lunt, Brett Ferres and Anthony Mullally also crossed the line.

It was the Bulls’ sixth defeat from seven Magic Weekend encounters dating back to 2007.

Cummins, who saw the recalled Jamie Foster score the Bulls’ only try midway through the second half, said: “It was definitely a bad day for us – Huddersfield were the better team.

“The way to play in these conditions, when we’ve got a nice warm day, is not to have repeat sets against you.

“You need to try and get a few yourself and when you earn field position you need to defend it, which should get you some better field position. But we were awful.

“We clawed ourselves out of some real tough positions where we’re starting on our own line. We’d get back up the field but would then give a penalty away on play one or simply miss tackles.

“When that happens you don’t deserve to win the game.”

Cummins had been hit by the loss of injured duo Luke Gale and John Bateman.

Both men picked up quad injuries during training last week and were not risked.

Cummins added: “Luke Gale has got a quad strain and Bateman a similar injury; in fact, it might have been the same tackle in training. I didn’t want to risk either.”

Foster returned to the side after a four-match absence following the pectoral muscle he ruptured during the Tetley’s Challenge Cup win at Rochdale a month ago.

With Brett Kearney still absent with a groin injury, and Gale’s absence meaning Jarrod Sammut was needed in the halves, Cummins said he was left with little choice but to throw Foster straight back in.

He said: “Obviously we don’t have Brett Kearney in there so it was always going to be tough.

“Jamie’s deputising, doesn’t really know the role and had a lot to do with people running straight through our defensive line.

“I had no choice. The choice was to play Jarrod Sammut there but I didn’t really like how we were defensively last week with our back three.

“Danny Brough’s probably got the best kicking game in the league. You go with someone who you know has played it before and can organise your defensive line around the goal-line and you make a decision.

“We knew it was always going to be a makeshift and I don’t think the full back selection was the reason why we lost the game.”

Cummins also revealed that Matty Blythe (back) and Adrian Purtell (rib) picked up knocks as the Bulls gear up for Sunday’s crucial trip to Hull KR.

The Bulls coach added: “We’ve got people missing but there were some below-par performances today as well. We knew we had to be at our best and we weren’t.”