[joeysteele]

I felt in the circumstances,probably to no ones surprise,that I think Dan handled it well overall.

Yes he did get a bit over protective as to Hazel but she has totally confided in him on this and he was the only one to really know the events as to Hazel's problems with Daley on the night in question.

In that panic of likely several people rushing in to possibly crowd and ask Hazel about it or press the issue, he did get a bit too zealous in his attempts to keep people away from her until he got her on her own and explained it all to her.

Unlike some on here, Sophie herself, and full credit to her too, even said Dan did right to get Hazel away and talk to her on his own, she just took issue with the tone used by him to them in that moment of panic.
The guy said to her he didn't mean it in a bad way and didn't want it to come over like that but that bit of the conversation gets overlooked as usual.

No matter what people may think of Hazel, she will be naturally rather fragile as to the event still and his aim was to protect her.
He was also instrumental in getting her to tell the others at least the outlines of what had happened so they could understand what the tennis ball message was likely about.
Hazel, said she preferred for him to tell them which he did for her.

It is usually very difficult to deal with awkward situations when someone can get even more hurt or concerned than they already are.
People will make mistakes in handling such issues,Dan is a human being and so will not always get everything done the right way all the time,no one can but he did his best for Hazel and whatever the outcome he did manage to spare her being faced initially with just about everyone charging in likely ready to fire questions to her as to what it was all about.

After making sure Hazel was okay and calm,he then got them told a few facts as to the issue.
He maybe could have handled it more perfectly than he did but Hazel was protected and so for me the end justified the means.
Also being the only person who she had confided in as to the incident, he was also in a quite difficult position,so had little time to likely more calmly see it through from the ball coming over and being read.