Leeds arrived in Northern Italy knowing that a win could almost guarantee their place in the Quarter Finals of the European Challenge Cup.
However, they were given an early indication that it was going to be a long afternoon when French official David Rosich penalised them three times in the first two minutes giving Paul Griffen the chance to open the score with a penalty from in front of the posts.
The Italian international scrum half doubled his sides lead after six minutes after another penalty was awarded right in front of the posts. Leeds had enjoyed a good spell of pressure but poor kicks to the corner allowed Calvisano the chance to counter attack and they took their chance.
Tom Biggs was a constant bright spark for Leeds on attack but errors were costing the visitors the chance to build pressure on the Calvisano line. Having won a good line out on half way, Jon Dunbar burst through in midfield but was penalised for holding on before Leeds were marched back ten metres for back chat by Darren Edwards. Calvisano fly half Paulo Buso fancied his chances from 55 metres out and coolly slotted his chance over to make it 9-0 after 13 minutes.
Alberto Di Bernardo had the chance to hit back a minute later but his attempt was badly hooked wide.
Leeds had the first real chance of the game to score a try after 18 minutes when John Holtby broke through 35 metres out, with Leigh Hinton out side him, he elected to go for the line himself and was tackled just short by Griffen. Soon after, Vickerman had another chance but his one handed offload fell straight into the arms of Griffen and another chance went begging.
Leeds were given a let off after 24 minutes when Griffen's pushed his third attempted penalty wide. However, Calvisano did extend their lead three minutes later when Buso kicked another long range effort, albeit with the aid of a deflection off the post.
The visitors were their own worst enemy. Whilst they dominated possession, they tried to break through the home defence in ones and twos, with flamboyant offloads and flick passes whilst the swarm attack of Calvasino saw they wade forward with any ball they managed to secure.
Leeds faced double blow with three minutes remaining in the half. Di Bernardo was sin binned for deliberately killing the ball in a ruck and Griffen added the penalty to make it 15-3.
However, that loss seemed to finally wake Leeds into life and straight from the re-start they scored the first try of the game. Lee Blackett made the initial in roads with a strong road by Rhys Oakley and Stuart Hooper continued the move. Finally, the ball was spread away from the ruck and Vili Ma'asi powered his way over from close range. Leigh Hinton's conversion attempt drifted wide to leave the half time score 15-8 to Calvisano.
Leeds managed to cut the deficit to just two points before Di Bernardo returned. A great drive by Mike MacDonald took Leeds to within inches of the line before Lee Blackett powered his way over for his side's second try. Hinton was unable to add the conversion but it was now 15-13 after 66 minutes.
However, the home side struck back four minutes later just as Leeds look like they may take the lead. An attempted offload was knocked down by the home defence and Daniele Forcucci broke upfield. He was tackled by Rob Vickerman but found his opposite winger Ludovico Nitoglia who raced in for the try. Griffen's conversion made it 22-13 after 50 minutes.
Leeds managed to cut the home side's lead again when Di Bernardo kicked a penalty after 55 minutes but still Stuart Lancaster's side trailed 22-16.
Both teams were reduced to 14 men with 20 minutes remaining as John Holtby for Leeds and Matteo Pratichetti were sin binned for sparking a bout of pushing and shoving.
Di Bernardo did give Leeds a lifeline with a penalty after 67 minutes but Lorenzo Cittadini struck the killer blow for the home side when the replacement prop crashed over with six minutes remaining. Buso's conversion attempt went wide but time was running out for Leeds.
Biggs went close but was just denied a try before Joe Bedford was driven over the line by his pack for a try at the start of stoppage time. Di Bernardo converted to set up a nail biting finish however it was too little too late on a frustrating afternoon for Leeds Carnegie.
Calvisano: McLean, Forcucci, Mafi, Pratichetti, Nitoglia, Buso, Griffen, McKenzie, Ghiraldini, Vermeulen, Treloar, Purll, Dal Maso, Persico, Doherty
Replacements: Bocca for McKenzie (HT), Intoppa for Vermeulen (HT), Cittadini for McKenzie (HT), Beccaris for Purll (68), Cattina for Persico (51), Patelli for Griffen (68), Garcia for Forcucci (73)
Leeds: Hinton, Holtby, Vickerman, Blackett, Biggs, Di Bernardo, Edwards, McDonald, Ma'asi, Noon, Hooper, Lund, Dunbar, Clark, Oakley
Replacements: Nilsen, McGee for Noon (57), Bouza for Lund (73), Schusterman for Clark (62), Bedford for Edwards (46), Hepworth for Vickerman (64), Goodridge
Referee: David Rosich (France)