ADAM Higson will want to forget his first and probably last Magic Weekend appearance at Newcastle’s St James’ Park.

Higson, who grew up a Salford supporter, became only the seventh player in the event’s 11-year history to be red carded.

His 55th minute dismissal for a high tackle on Gareth O’Brien helped tipped the contest in Salford’s direction after Leigh started promisingly in an attempt to break their unwanted losing streak.

Centurions were only six points adrift when the winger received his marching orders from referee James Child but minutes later Niall Evalds touched down for a converted try to ease the Red Devils towards the winning post.

Leigh, who travel to Hull tomorrow night (Friday) have now lost their last nine league and cup outings since beating Warrington on March 16.

"It was a straight red,” agreed head coach Neil Jukes. “It didn’t help us but what didn’t help as well was our completion rate.

"At a 50 percent completion rate and they are at nearly 90, they are going to make more meters and win more ruck. We don’t help ourselves.

"Every time we scored a try, we backed it up on the next set with an error. We spoke about it half-time.

"We make a break in set one and make an error on the back of the break. We keep saying we are going to learn the lessons.

"There are lots of big facets in the game: your kicking game, your completion, your discipline. At the moment we are bringing two and not the other which is why we are not winning many games.

“The challenge for us is to get the performance right and the result will always look after itself.

“But you won’t beat any team in Super League with 50 or 60 percent completion rates. And we won’t do it with 12 men.”

On loan centre Matty Fleming had the distinction of scoring Leigh’s first ever try at Magic Weekend- which looks set to move for 2018 after three years on Tyneside- after seven minutes.

Mitch Brown added a second touchdown, both converted by Josh Drinkwater, after Salford hit back through Ben Murdoch-Masila and a Michael Dobson penalty.

However, from 12-6 up Leigh found themselves 24-12 down at the break as three tries in nine minutes from Murdoch-Masila again, Kris Welham and Greg Johnson put Salford in the driving seat.

Ben Crooks replied with a superb solo effort early in the second period and Drinkwater’s third goal cut Salford’s lead to 24-18.

Then came Higson’s moment of madness and though Matty Dawson scooted over 17 minutes from time, Johnson’s second try three minutes later sealed Centurions’ fate.

*Leigh stalwart Martyn Ridyard kicked three goals on debut as Huddersfield came from behind late on to beat Catalans Dragons 18-10.

Match stats:

Leigh: Brown; Dawson, Crooks, Fleming, Higson; Hampshire, Drinkwater; Burr, Hood, Hansen, Paterson, Vea, Stewart; substitutes: Pelissier, Hock, Tickle, Hopkins.

Tries: Fleming (7), Brown (16), Crooks (48), Dawson (63). Goals: Drinkwater (3).

Salford: O’Brien; Johnson, Welham, Sa’u, Evalds; Lui, Dobson; Kopczak, Tomkins, Tasi, Murdoch-Masila, Jones, Krasniqi; substitutes: Hauraki, Flanagan, Lannon, Brinning.

Tries: Murdoch-Masila (9, 22), Welham (25), Johnson (32, 66), Evalds (56).

Goals: Dobson (5), O’Brien (1).

Referee: James Child.

Attendance: 30,046.