The Eilan, Newtonmore was once again the host for the showpiece event of the WCA Finals Day, as Badenoch looked to defend their crown in the Mowi Valerie Fraser Cup against Kinlochshiel. It was the final of three successive meetings between the two sides, with Badenoch having ran out winners in the two games previous, taking home the Premier League and Premier Cup.

Cat Whyte oversaw proceedings, forming part of the first ever all female officiating team which had presided over all 3 finals that day, and as she threw the ball into the air to begin the afternoon’s proceedings there was an excitement in the air in both camps.

The game ebbed and flowed from the get-go, with the first real chance coming from Lorna MacRae, who controlled a pass from young Maura MacKenzie into space before unleashing a low driven from range which flashed narrowly past the goal, reminding Badenoch what Shiel’s forwards can/are be capable of.

Not long after, MacRae came even closer, putting a ball from Lexie MacKenzie just wide of the target from close range. The momentum was in Shiel’s favour at this early stage of the game, with Alaina MacLennan putting a shot over the bar a minute later before Lorna MacRae had another shot go wide.

Badenoch would go down the other end of the pitch to register their first shot, with a loose ball falling to Rona Stewart, however her shot failed to dip in time to trouble Lisa Falconer.

On 17 minutes it was Kinlochshiel who broke the deadlock, with Katie MacRae playing a ball out wide for Lorna MacRae to run on to and release a cross into Lexie MacKenzie who was able to control the ball and strike the ball past the Badenoch keeper to make it 1-0.

Shiel would continue to get their shots off, with Badenoch prevented from troubling the goal in large part due to a strong defensive shift from young Kacie MacRae who at 13 was proving to be a constant thorn in her marker’s side.

The outcome of the match may have been very different had Elizabeth McGregor not been at the top of her game in goals, highlighted by a brilliant save to deny Lorna MacRae from doubling her side’s lead as she hit a well struck shot on the half volley.

More chances would begin to fall for Badenoch, with the introduction of the experienced Kirsty Deans giving her side more bite up top, the best of these coming as she received the ball to feet from Megan Ralph before dribbling past her marker to lay it off to young Lexi Farquhar who was unable to keep the trajectory of her shot down. Andrew MacKenzie’s side were, however, able to survive this onslaught to go into half-time a goal to nil up.

As the second half roared to life, it was the team in red who struck first, as Lorna MacRae got the better of Roma Fraser from a loose ball to test McGregor, and whilst she made the initial save the goal came from an unlikely source as Alaina MacLennan was lurking to make it 2-0.

About as good a start as the side from Wester Ross could’ve asked for, but as they, perhaps more than anyone else, are aware – there is no team in the women’s game that can produce a fight back better than Badenoch, and that’s what they proceeded to do. Lexi Farquhar and Kirsty Deans were proving to be a constant threat, with a shot from the youngster parried by Falconer into the path of Deans whose shot once again required a save, Megan Ralph firing wide from the resulting corner.

Falconer was once again called into action as a rocket of a strike from Rona Stewart required quick thinking to prevent it from finding the back of the net. It seemed inevitable that one of these chances would eventually pay, and as a defensive clearance fell to Kirsty Deans, her knack for a big goal showed as the 2022 winning captain finally got the best of the opposing keeper to make it 2-1 – game on!

A quickfire double ensued mere moments later, as Hope Borthwick threaded a ball through the defensive line to Deans who was able to smartly knock the ball past her marker and slot a shot in at the near post to level proceedings just before the hour mark.

The game opened up more at this point, although none of the shots from either side did much to cause much panic. A good chance came for Zoe Reid on 75 minutes as Hope Borthwick held the ball up well before playing the ball into the path of her overlapping teammate, but as many of the prior shots had gone, it was wide of the goal. At the other end of the pitch, Emma Gordon was able to control a well hit chipped ball from Rhianna Kirk to lay it into the path of the onrushing Lorna MacRae, however McGregor was able to get out to cut off her route to goal and force the shot to go wide from point blank range.

These two linked up to great effect soon after, as Gordon was able to expertly hold the ball up until MacRae found space to shoot, and it required another top notch save from “Betty” McGregor who followed this up by jostling with Gordon on the rebound to prevent her from getting a shot off and putting the ball out for a corner.

Badenoch can once again look back at this string from saves from McGregor as being a huge part of the reason they were able to retain the cup – right as the clock hit 80 minutes, she once again stopped a strong shot from Lorna MacRae and cleared her lines with ease in a manner few keepers are capable of. With this, Badenoch had weathered the storm that Shiel had produced late on to force the game to extra time.

It took all of 61 seconds after the resumption of play for Kinlochshiel to once again take the lead, as Muara MacKenzie was able to turn her opposing defender before finding Lorna MacRae, and this time she made no mistake as she took the ball on the turn and finished to make it 3-2.

Their lead would be short lived as Lexi Farquhar was able to draw her marker out of position to give Hope Borthwick a clear run in on goal having got past three Shiel defenders, the substitute making no mistake as she equalised. Incredibly, there was only 50 seconds between Badenoch being behind to them taking the lead, as Megan Ralph was able to take control of the ball from throw-up and send the ball forward. With a Kinlochshiel player down injured it was three on two as Deans played a floated ball into the path of Lexi Farquhar, whose touch was impeccably timed to get the better of Maree MacKenzie before firing the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

From this point on it felt inevitable that the cup would be staying in Badenoch, as Kinlochshiel were unable to produce a reply, despite rallying with multiple shots in reply.

The fresh legs of Hope Borthwick were having a field day with the Shiel defence by this stage, with Rona Stewart managing to find Lexi Farquhar in the final third from her own half. Borthwick was all too happy to receive the ball from a 1-2 as she sped past two defenders to all but put the game to bed.

A lifeline would fall for Kinlochshiel, as Lexie MacKenzie did well to play a ball which made its way all the way to the edge of the D, however shots from Lorna MacRae and Maura MacKenzie went agonisingly wide with 90 seconds left on the clock.

With that Cat Whyte brought an end to proceedings, meaning Badenoch had completed the first ever treble in the women’s game. Commiserations must go to Kinlochshiel, who against all the odds had pushed Badenoch all the way and came agonisingly close to finally getting their hands on their first piece of senior silverware in their short history.

Another first for 2026 was a new Quaich in memory of the late Peter Gow, presented to the player of the match in his honour. It was Elizabeth McGregor who rightfully took home this honour, joining sibling Rory “Bob” in being named player of the match for heroics in between the sticks in a national final. Having been impressive all game, her saves were the difference between the two sides.

With that all that was left was for Rachael Borthwick to pick up a trophy to lift the third and final time that season, joined on the pavilion by uncle and manager Iain “Corky” Borthwick to cap off a memorable season for her side.

You can watch the game back below: