Leigh made the long trip to Whitehaven's Recreation Ground and, for forty minutes, looked set to match last year's league success as they built a 16-8 lead.
Dennis Moran threw an early intercept pass that was picked off by Saia Makisi and Carl Rudd made it 6-0 to the hosts, before Dave McConnell spun out of a tackle and Ian Watson's conversion levelled matters.
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Following a spell of pressure, Whitehaven added a further two points when Lee Marsh was caught offside and Rudd converted the penalty.
Two tries in four minutes before the break saw Leigh move ahead.
First Lee Doran smuggled the ball out of a tackle, McConnell pushed up and Mike Morrison touched down, then Doran appeared to knock on a Marc Bainbridge kick but Leigh played on and Dave Alstead moved clear from 60 metres. Although Watson missed the goal, Leigh were confident of victory.
However, prop Morrison was sent off for running in and striking after 42 minutes in an incident that also saw Leigh's Gareth Price and Haven's Ryan McDonald sinbinned.
Immediately, former Leigh centre Rob Jackson scored and when Craig Calvert and Ade Adibisi followed up with tries of their own, the hosts had moved clear
Although Rudd missed the conversion he then added a try on the hour and kicked his fourth goal. Despite Leigh's best efforts, their twelve men were forced to concede defeat again.
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