A continental trophy remains just outside Pembroke Wanderers' grasp. They were beaten 3-1 yesterday by the polished French side Lille in the final of the European club championship (B Division), staged with much enthusiasm at Wettingen, outside Zurich.

After the accomplished Frederic Soyez had given Lille an early lead, Pembroke pressed strongly and deservedly were level at the interval. Although a short corner broke down, Justin Sherriff lashed the loose ball into the net in the 31st minute.

Lille established control, however, in the third quarter. Jean-Louis Ponthieu connected with a cross from Soyez to make it 2-1. Then Clement Thieriez was allowed to increase the margin and with little drive left apart from the thrusts of Sherriff and Alan Giles, Pembroke's cause was lost.

So, the Dubliners' record from four trips to Europe in six years is two silvers, a bronze and a fourth place. Their top-two finish in Zurich sets up a daunting A Division challenge for the new Irish champions, Cork Harlequins next year.

PEMBROKE WANDERERS (squad): S Doran, A Stokes; D McKeen (capt), F de Rosa, K Treacy, M Tijs, R Gormley, S Stewart, P Carley, A Giles, D Donnelly, J Sherriff, G Elliott, D Good, P Priestly, M Elliott, A Alipour; coach: D Sullivan; manager: F Donnelly.

European Club Championship (B Division), Zurich - final: Lille 3 Pembroke Wanderers 1 (J Sherriff); 3rd-4th place playoff: Dinamo Ekaterinburg (Russia) 4 Rotweiss Wettingen 2; 5th-6th: Slavia Prague 5 Eagles (Gibraltar) 5 - Slavi won 5-4 on strokes; 7th-8th: WAC (Austria) 4 Kolos Vinnitsa (Ukraine) 2.