SANDRINGHAM has produced another thrilling win at Trevor Barker Beach Oval, overcoming a competitive Coburg Lions outfit by 15 points despite a scoreless first term.

The win lifts the Zebras to outright third on the VFL ladder.

Torrential and constant rain plagued the afternoon, forcing spectators to duck for cover or reach frantically for their umbrellas.

Coburg stunned Sandringham early, galloping to a 40-point lead at quarter-time with six unanswered majors.

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The Lions ability to handle the football well and hit targets was a clear advantage, at times making the Zebras look second-rate.

Ahmed Saad (6 disposals, 2 tackles, 2 goals) eventually got the home side going with his first 13 minutes into the second term, enough to spark back-to-back goals to Darren Minchington (16 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal) and Eli Templeton (16 disposals, 3 tackles, 2 goals).

Those three consecutive goals to round out the first half kept the Zebras in the game, almost halving the quarter-time deficit to 22 points at the main break.

The third quarter was the shortest of the four at 29 minutes, which saw just three goals kicked in conditions that had become increasingly sodden.

Eli Templeton kicked it off with his second, only for the visitors to respond, while Ahmed Saad lit another spark, controlling a loose ball inside 50 to run into an open goal and reduce the margin to 16 points at three-quarter-time.

Paul Hudson rallied his troops at the last break and they responded with another thrilling last quarter performance.

The spirited Zebras kicked a wayward 4.9 but such was their momentum and defensive efforts, that they restricted the Lions to just two behinds.

From the 10-minute mark when skipper Adam Cockie (17 disposals, 7 tackles, 1 goal) reduced the margin to nine points, the Zebras never looked back.

Goals followed to Arryn Siposs (8 disposals, 4 tackles, 1.2), Yllber Zijai (22 disposals, 5 tackles, 1.3) and a fitting finish for ruckman Jason Holmes (8 disposals, 5 tackles, 1 goal), who converted a set shot moments before the final siren.

St Kilda Development Coach and Sandringham Coach Paul Hudson was delighted with the win post-match after a slow start in difficult conditions.

"It was a really pleasing performance by our players," Hudson told SAINTS.com.au.

"Our start wasn't great and something we need to improve on but to come back from 40 points down in really difficult conditions just showed the character of the group.

"Eli Templeton and Ahmed Saad provided great pressure around the contest, while Brodie Murdoch (24 disposals, 4 tackles) and Josh Saunders (21 disposals, 2 tackles, 5 marks) gave us the run that we needed to finish the game strongly.

"Werribee presents a challenge next week but we'll go in with confidence having a good record against them away from home."

Sandringham travels to Avalon Airport oval next Saturday to face Werribee. Win, and a top four spot will be almost certain for the Zebras.  

SANDRINGHAM 0.0 3.7 5.10 9.19 (73)

COBURG LIONS 6.4 7.5 8.8 8.10 (58)

GOALS: Saad 2, Templeton 2, Zijai, Cockie, Minchington, Siposs, Holmes.

BEST: Cockie, Jones, Murdoch, Saad, Templeton, Saunders.