Bedford Athletic exited the East Midlands Cup at the quarter-final stage as they went down 30-22 at county rivals Ampthill.

In an encounter that provided the proverbial game of two halves, Ath led 22-3 at the break but conceded 27 points in the second period as Ampthill booked their place in the last four.

The visitors started well and early pressure led to them taking a seventh-minute lead when Garry Acton drove over at the back of a maul.

Ampthill had the ball over the line twice in the next 10 minutes but were denied on both occasions, once when they were held up and the other when they dropped the ball.

Kieron Davies ensured Amps had something to show for their efforts with a penalty but, on 24 minutes, Ath increased their advantage when Joe Hunt made the most of good work by Hughes Groshens and Ryan Spence to touch down.

Amps were then reduced to 14 men with the sin-binning of Shane Allen and Ath capitalised with a brace of tries from Fernley Simmonds and Acton to put them in command at the interval.

Ath had the better of the opening 40 minutes but it was completely the opposite in the second half.

A minute after the break, Adam Shaw crossed, Davies converting, and a second penalty seven minutes later cut the gap to nine points.

Dan Lavery was the next to score, bursting through three tackles on his way to the line, with Davies' conversion moving Amps to within two points of the visitors.

Neil Paterson's yellow card proved to be crucial as Amps, with a man advantage, took the lead for the first time through a Phil Lane try.

Davies converted and he added a drop-goal seven minutes from time to put the hosts in the clear.

Ath pushed in the final few minutes but it proved in vain as Amps booked a semi-final clash with Dunstablians in February.

This weekend, Ath return to their battle for Midlands One survival when Kenilworth are the visitors to Putnoe Woods, kick off is at 2.15pm.

Amps entertain Leighton Buzzard in their Midlands Two East Bedfordshire derby, Bedford Swifts entertain Long Buckby in Midlands Four East South, while Kempston hosts Bedford Queens in Midlands Five East South.