Brandan O'Hagan put in a Player of the Match performance as York City Knights progressed to the second round of the Betfred Challenge Cup thanks to a 30-6 win over Sheffield Eagles in Doncaster on Friday night.
Sheffield's elimination from the competition also ends their reign as holders of the 1895 Cup.
The Knights led 20-6 at half time thanks to tries from Whiteley, Kriss Brining and Ben Jones-Bishop.
Kieran Dixon added four goals to give the visitors an unassailable lead which meant Greg Burns' try - converted by Izaac Farrell - proved fruitless.
Whiteley's second and a late score for Ryan Atkins, plus a further Dixon goal, rounded off a successful evening for the Knights.
O'Hagan, a 21-year-old off-season capture from Australia, has hit the ground running in 2021, collecting his side's Player of the match award in their clash with Hull FC last week, while he was influential in guiding York around the field tonight.
He had a hand in most of what James Ford's men did well, catching the eye with a cut-out pass for Whiteley's second on the hour mark which put the result beyond doubt.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">âš”ï¸ðŸ¦… TRY! <a href="https://twitter.com/SheffieldEagles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SheffieldEagles</a> 6-24 <a href="https://twitter.com/YorkKnightsRLFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YorkKnightsRLFC</a><br><br>Perry Whiteley scores his second try of the night after a great pass from O'Hagan.<a href="https://twitter.com/TheChallengeCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheChallengeCup</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Betfred?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Betfred</a> <a href="https://t.co/31Y4WQIKkQ">pic.twitter.com/31Y4WQIKkQ</a></p>— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSportsman/status/1373018301807349760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>York came into the game full of confidence after an encouraging 28-22 reverse at home to Super League's Hull a week ago, and they flew out of the blocks to take an early lead with Whiteley's first coming after three minutes.
Dixon added the extras, but Sheffield did hit back on 15 minutes as Burns tumbled over with Farrell's goal levelling the scores.
But that was as good as it got for Mark Aston's Eagles as York showed clicked through the gears.
Kriss Brining put York back in front on the half hour mark, before Jones-Bishop scored just two minutes later.
Two goals from Dixon left the Knights 18-6 up after 33 minutes before a penalty on the hooter left their lead at 14 points.
The Eagles continued to fight for their Challenge Cup progress, a notable chase from prop/second row Oliver Davies on Ben Jones-Bishop summed up their attitude throughout.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">âš”ï¸ðŸ¦… <a href="https://twitter.com/SheffieldEagles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SheffieldEagles</a> 6-20 <a href="https://twitter.com/YorkKnightsRLFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YorkKnightsRLFC</a><br><br>END TO END STUFF! No score, but what a belting bit of Rugby League. We've really bloody missed this sport!<a href="https://twitter.com/TheChallengeCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheChallengeCup</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Betfred?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Betfred</a> <a href="https://t.co/hA7l41DAIs">pic.twitter.com/hA7l41DAIs</a></p>— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSportsman/status/1373014898951741443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>However York held firm and added to their lead thanks to O'Hagan's magic touch putting Whiteley over with 59 minutes played.
Ryan Atkins then went over on the hooter with Dixon's fifth goal of the game proving to be the final act of the evening.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">âš”ï¸ TRY! <a href="https://twitter.com/SheffieldEagles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SheffieldEagles</a> 6-30 <a href="https://twitter.com/YorkKnightsRLFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YorkKnightsRLFC</a><br><br>Ryan Atkins sees the game out for the Knights, a brilliant try in his first competitive game for the club!<br><br>Kieran Dixon with the conversion.<a href="https://twitter.com/TheChallengeCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheChallengeCup</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Betfred?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Betfred</a> <a href="https://t.co/4hAuLSm2tO">pic.twitter.com/4hAuLSm2tO</a></p>— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSportsman/status/1373025060013940740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>More Betfred Challenge Cup action follows in a packed schedule of seven matches over the next two days.
Full broadcast details can be found at rugby-league.com.
